Pectin: Properties Determination and Uses

Pectin is a high-molecular-weight heteropolysaccharide present in plant cell walls where it contributes to the firmness and structure of the vegetal tissue. Pectin is widely used as food ingredient owing, mainly, to its ability to impart texture and firmness to food products (hydrogels), even though recent interesting uses are also related to other pectin properties, such as interfacial activity. A general overview of pectin and pectin gels is presented, including the most recent experimental techniques used to characterize pectin properties and the texture-structure relationships in pectin hydrogels.