Pectin
structural heteropolysaccharide contained in the primary cell walls of terrestrial plants and some algae
Pectin (Ancient Greek: πηκτικός pēktikós: 'congealed' and 'curdled') is a heteropolysaccharide, a structural polymer contained in the cell walls and middle lamellae of terrestrial plants. The principal chemical component of pectin is galacturonic acid (a sugar acid derived from galactose). Commercially produced pectin is a white-to-light-brown powder, produced from citrus fruits for use as an edible gelling agent, especially in jams and jellies, dessert fillings, medications, and sweets.
Biology
Natural occurrence
Pectin was isolated and described by Henri Braconnot in 1825.He showed that it was present in the leaves, stems and fruits of many plants. Pears, apples, guavas, quince, plums, gooseberries, and oranges and other citrus fruits contain large amounts of pectin, while soft fruits, like cherries, grapes, and strawberries, contain smaller amounts.
Typical levels of pectin in fresh fruits and vegetables are:
Apples, 1–1.5%
Apricots, 1%
Cherries, 0.4%
Oranges, 0.5–3.5%
Carrots 1.4%
Citrus peels, 30%
Rose hips, 15%
Pectin is composed of complex polysaccharides that are present in the primary cell walls of a plant, and are abundant in the green parts of terrestrial plants.
Pectin is the principal component of the middle lamella, where it binds cells. Pectin is deposited by exocytosis into the cell wall via vesicles produced in the Golgi apparatus. The amount, structure and chemical composition of pectin is different among plants, within a plant over time, and in various parts of a plant. Pectin is an important cell wall polysaccharide that allows primary cell wall extension and plant growth.
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Named sources, stable identifiers and responsible institutions provide the strongest route from overview to verifiable evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 23, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q188154. The Library of Congress control number is sh85099115. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 1 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1825.
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This entry incorporates text from “Pectin” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.