7517. Plantago Seed

Nomenclature

Psyllium seed; plantain seed; flea seed.

Description and references

Seed from Plantago ovata Forsk., Plantaginaceae, known as blond or Indian plantago seed, P. psyllium L. known as Spanish psyllium seed, or P. indica L. (P. arenaria Waldst. & Kit.) known as French psyllium seed. Habit. Mediterranean countries, India. Cultivated in India, Pakistan, France. Psyllium husk is the epidermis from seeds of any of the above plantago species; Ispaghula husk refers specifically to the epidermis of P. ovata seeds. The husk contains a water-soluble mucilage consisting of a highly branched, acidic arabinoxylan: J. F. Kennedy et al., Carbohydr. Res. 75, 265 (1979). Use in chronic constipation: M. Borgia et al., J. Int. Med. Res. 11, 124 (1983). Review: J. N. BeMiller in Industrial Gums, R. L. Whistler, Ed. (Academic Press, New York, 2nd ed., 1973) pp 345-354. Review of therapeutic potential in reducing blood cholesterol: H. Lipsky et al., J. Clin. Pharmacol. 30, 699-703 (1990).

Properties

Small, dark reddish-brown, odorless, almost tasteless seeds. Mixed with an equal bulk of water, forms a mucilaginous mass.

Derivative

Ispaghula husk.

Nomenclature

Fibrolax (Gipharmex); Fybozest (Reckitt Benckiser); Fybogel (Reckitt Benckiser); Isogel (Charwell); Regulan (Procter & Gamble).

Derivative

Psyllium hydrophylic mucilloid.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 8063-16-9
Psyllium hydrocolloid; psyllium seed gum; Effer-Syllium (J & J-Merck); Fiberall (Novartis); Metamucil (Procter & Gamble); Perdiem Fiber (RPR); Serutan (Menley & James).

Properties

Obtained from epidermis of P. ovata seeds. White to cream-colored, slightly granular powder. Slightly acid taste; little or no odor.

Therapeutic Category

Laxative.