Question

Agar-agar is obtained from
a. Red algae
b. Brown algae
c. Green algae
d. Blue green algae

Answer 1

Agar-agar is the jelly-like substance, which is obtained from the algae, and the jelly material is nothing but the polysaccharide branches of the cell wall, and this agar-agar is used for wide number of varieties which include deserts.

Complete answer:
- Agar agar is the jelly-like substance which is obtained from the Red algae.
- This agar agar mainly contains the two types of materials, which are linear polysaccharides called agarose and small molecules of the heterogeneous mixture of the agaropectin.
- These are nothing but the structural supporting substances present in some species of algae, where these substances are released while boiling.
- Agar-agar is used in a wide range of varieties, it is used as an ingredient in the desert in so many asian places.
- Also used as a substrate for culture media of microorganisms and it is used for culturing.
- It is also used as laxative, and it is also used as appetite suppressant.
- The gelling agent of the agar agar is obtained from the polysaccharides of the cell wall of the red algae.
- Tengusa and ogonori are some species of the red algae which is used for commercial purposes.
- In chemical terminology, agar agar is nothing but the poly subunits of the sugar galactose.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: Agar agar contain, 80% of the dietary fiber, so it can be used as intestinal regulator, and in some countries like Japan, this agar- agar is used in diet, where when it is ingested and drink the water, it swells by absorbing water and makes the stomach fuller, and this diet has got appreciation in USA in obesity studies.