Plant fiber
Fibers from which threads or ropes are prepared. They are thin, long plant tissue with good tensile property. They can be found in various parts –
Types
- Seed fiber – cotton (Gossypium genus), Kapok, Luffa, coir
- Bast fiber – jute, flax, hemp, esparto (mostly the phloem tissue)
- Leaf fiber – sisal, henequen
- Regenerated fiber – soybean, bamboo
- Semisynthetic fiber – rayon
Dietary fiber (roughage)
The indigestible portion of food derived from plants. They help to form the bulk of stool. Prevent constipation and colon cancer.
Types
- Soluble fibers
- Insoluble fibers
Fermentation by intestinal flora (mostly in colon) produces gas and other byproducts. Based on the extent of fermentation dietary fibers can be
- Partially fermentable – cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, plant waxes
- Almost completely fermentable – resistant starches, beta-glucans, pectins, natural gums, inulin, oligosaccharides
Author
Dr. Arnab Mukherjee