Abstract

*Soumya Roy, Soumya Chakraborty and Dr. Dhrubo Jyoti Sen

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT Carrageenan is an additive used to thicken, emulsify, and preserve foods and drinks. It's a natural ingredient that comes from red seaweed (also called Irish moss). You'll often find this ingredient in nut milks, meat products, and yogurt. Carrageenan is made from parts of various red seaweeds in the Rhodophyceae family. It's commonly used to thicken foods, but it has no nutritional value. Carrageenan has been added to processed foods since the 1950s. Carrageenan might also help fight infections. People use carrageenan for cough, common cold, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any uses. A sexually transmitted infection that can lead to genital warts or cancer (human papillomavirus or HPV). Applying a carrageen gel before intercourse does not reduce the risk of anal HPV in males who have sex with males. There is interest in using carrageen for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful. Carrageenan is commonly consumed in foods. A broken down form called poligeenan is possibly unsafe. It might damage the colon and cause bleeding and cancer. But this risk hasn't been shown in humans. Also, carrageenan products found in the US and Europe can only contain a very small amount of this broken down form. Carrageenan is possibly safe for most people when used for up to 7 days. There isn't enough reliable information to know if carrageenan is safe. It might cause side effects such as discomfort. A broken down form called poligeenan is possibly unsafe. It might damage the colon and cause bleeding and cancer. But this risk hasn't been shown in humans. Also, carrageenan products found in the US and Europe can only contain a very small amount of this broken down form. When sprayed into the nose: Carrageenan is possibly safe for most people when used for up to 7 days. There isn't enough reliable information to know if carrageenan is safe. It might cause side effects such as discomfort. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Carrageenan is commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if it's safe in the larger amounts used as medicine. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.