Agar is a jelly-like substance containing agarose and agar gum. Agar can be extracted from the cell walls of red algae species such as Gelidium and Gracilaria (Ogonori). Agar's gelation and melting are based on hydrogen bridges (physical gels), so gelation is reversible. Agar is extensively used in food additives, plant tissue culture, microbial culture media, fingerprint identification and medical fields.

Physicochemical Properties

Molecular Formula	C14H24O9
Molecular Weight	336.3350
Exact Mass	336.142
CAS #	9002-18-0
PubChem CID	71571511
Appearance	Transparent strips or coarse or fine powder Thin, translucent, membranous pieces, or pale buff powder ...usually in the form of chopped shreds, sheets, flakes, granules, or powder.
Melting Point	85-95 °C
LogP	-2.2
Hydrogen Bond Donor Count	4
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count	9
Rotatable Bond Count	4
Heavy Atom Count	23
Complexity	408
Defined Atom Stereocenter Count	6
SMILES	O1C([H])([H])C2([H])C([H])([C@]1([H])[C@@]([H])(C([H])(C([H])([H])[H])O2)O[H])OC1([H])[C@@]([H])([C@]([H])([C@]([H])([C@@]([H])(C([H])([H])O[H])O1)O[H])OC([H])([H])[H])O[H]
InChi Key	GYYDPBCUIJTIBM-DYOGSRDZSA-N
InChi Code	InChI=1S/C14H24O9/c1-5-8(16)13-11(7(21-5)4-20-13)23-14-10(18)12(19-2)9(17)6(3-15)22-14/h5-18H,3-4H2,1-2H3/t5?,6-,7?,8-,9+,10-,11?,12+,13+,14?/m1/s1
Chemical Name	(2R,3S,4S,5R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[[(4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2,6-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-yl]oxy]-4-methoxyoxane-3,5-diol
HS Tariff Code	2934.99.9001
Storage	Powder-20°C 3 years 4°C 2 years In solvent -80°C 6 months -20°C 1 month
Shipping Condition	Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

Biological Activity

ln Vitro	Sulfamethadiazole-loaded agar bead preparation [3] (1) Dissolve 1.5 g agar in 20 mL of water, heat until dissolved, and then allow cool to approximately 70°C. (2) After adding 2 g of sulfamethadiazole to the suspension in (1), pour the mixture into a 100 mL graduated cylinder filled with Burgess reagent (the graduated cylinder is soaked in ice water) using a 3 mL plastic syringe. (3) Following filtration, the beads were vacuum-dried for twenty-four hours at room temperature (20°C).
ADME/Pharmacokinetics	Absorption, Distribution and Excretion It passes through the intestinal tract mostly unabsorbed.
Toxicity/Toxicokinetics	Non-Human Toxicity Values LD50 Rat oral 11 g/kg LD50 Mouse oral 16 g/kg LD50 Rabbit oral 5800 mg/kg LD50 Hamster oral 6100 mg/kg
References	[1]. Biochemical reagents[M]//Methods of Enzymatic Analysis. Academic Press, 1965: 967-1037.
Additional Infomation	Agar has been reported in Gracilariopsis longissima with data available. A complex sulfated polymer of galactose units, extracted from Gelidium cartilagineum, Gracilaria confervoides, and related red algae. It is used as a gel in the preparation of solid culture media for microorganisms, as a bulk laxative, in making emulsions, and as a supporting medium for immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis. Mechanism of Action THESE SUBSTANCES DISSOLVE OR SWELL IN WATER TO FORM AN EMOLLIENT GEL OR VISCOUS SOLN THAT SERVES TO MAINTAIN THE FECES SOFT & HYDRATED. THE RESULTING BULK PROMOTES PERISTALSIS, & TRANSIT TIME IS REDUCED. /BULK-FORMING LAXATIVES/ Therapeutic Uses IT MAY BE EATEN AS A CEREAL SUBSTITUTE OR ADDED TO OTHER FOODS, OR IT MAY BE DISSOLVED IN HOT WATER & ALLOWED TO GEL BEFORE BEING TAKEN. HOWEVER, AGAR IS A RELATIVELY INEFFECTIVE BULK-FORMING AGENT IN THE USUAL DOSE OF 4 TO 16 G. ...ALSO EMPLOYED AS AN EMULSIFYING AGENT IN A VARIETY OF PROPRIETARY NOSTRUMS COMBINED WITH MINERAL OIL & OTHER CATHARTICS, BUT THE DOSE OF AGAR IN THESE PREPARATIONS IS TOO SMALL TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR LAXATIVE EFFECT. MEDICATION (VET): LAXATIVE...USED IN CONSTIPATION. MECHANISTIC STUDIES REVEALED ANTIPEPTIC EFFECT OF AGAR WAS DUE TO A SUBSTRATE-INHIBITOR INTERACTION WITH HEMOGLOBIN. POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANCE IN THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF AGAR IN ULCER THERAPY. For more Therapeutic Uses (Complete) data for AGAR-AGAR (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Solubility Data

Solubility (In Vitro)

May dissolve in DMSO (in most cases), if not, try other solvents such as H2O, Ethanol, or DMF with a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples

Solubility (In Vivo)

Note: Listed below are some common formulations that may be used to formulate products with low water solubility (e.g. < 1 mg/mL), you may test these formulations using a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples. Injection Formulations (e.g. IP/IV/IM/SC) Injection Formulation 1: DMSO : Tween 80： Saline = 10 : 5 : 85 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO stock solution → 50 μL Tween 80 → 850 μL Saline) *Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH ₂ O to obtain a clear solution. Injection Formulation 2: DMSO : PEG300 ：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline) Injection Formulation 3: DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL Corn oil) Example: Take the Injection Formulation 3 (DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90) as an example, if 1 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can take 100 μL 25 mg/mL DMSO stock solution and add to 900 μL corn oil, mix well to obtain a clear or suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals). Injection Formulation 4: DMSO : 20% SBE-β-CD in saline = 10 : 90 [i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL (20% SBE-β-CD in saline)] *Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution. Injection Formulation 5: 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin : Saline = 50 : 50 (i.e. 500 μL 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin → 500 μL Saline) Injection Formulation 6: DMSO : PEG300 : castor oil : Saline = 5 : 10 : 20 : 65 (i.e. 50 μL DMSO → 100 μLPEG300 → 200 μL castor oil → 650 μL Saline) Injection Formulation 7: Ethanol : Cremophor : Saline = 10： 10 : 80 (i.e. 100 μL Ethanol → 100 μL Cremophor → 800 μL Saline) Injection Formulation 8: Dissolve in Cremophor/Ethanol (50 : 50), then diluted by Saline Injection Formulation 9: EtOH : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 900 μL Corn oil) Injection Formulation 10: EtOH : PEG300：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline) Oral Formulations Oral Formulation 1: Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na (carboxymethylcellulose sodium) Oral Formulation 2: Suspend in 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose Example: Take the Oral Formulation 1 (Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na) as an example, if 100 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can first prepare 0.5% CMC Na solution by measuring 0.5 g CMC Na and dissolve it in 100 mL ddH2O to obtain a clear solution; then add 250 mg of the product to 100 mL 0.5% CMC Na solution, to make the suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals). Oral Formulation 3: Dissolved in PEG400 Oral Formulation 4: Suspend in 0.2% Carboxymethyl cellulose Oral Formulation 5: Dissolve in 0.25% Tween 80 and 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose Oral Formulation 6: Mixing with food powders Note: Please be aware that the above formulations are for reference only. InvivoChem strongly recommends customers to read literature methods/protocols carefully before determining which formulation you should use for in vivo studies, as different compounds have different solubility properties and have to be formulated differently.  (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)

Preparing Stock Solutions		1 mg	5 mg	10 mg
	1 mM	2.9732 mL	14.8659 mL	29.7318 mL
	5 mM	0.5946 mL	2.9732 mL	5.9464 mL
	10 mM	0.2973 mL	1.4866 mL	2.9732 mL

*Note: Please select an appropriate solvent for the preparation of stock solution based on your experiment needs. For most products, DMSO can be used for preparing stock solutions (e.g. 5 mM, 10 mM, or 20 mM concentration); some products with high aqueous solubility may be dissolved in water directly. Solubility information is available at the above Solubility Data section. Once the stock solution is prepared, aliquot it to routine usage volumes and store at -20°C or -80°C. Avoid repeated freeze and thaw cycles.