Hyaluronic acid is a typical mucopolysaccharide. It is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan that is distributed widely throughout the human body in connective, epithelial, and neural tissues.
Hyaluronic acid is also a major component of skin, where it is involved in tissue repair. Hyaluronic acid plays many important roles such as lubrication of joints and regulation of the water balance of tissues.
Its name is derived from hyaloids (vitreous) and uronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is composed of equimolar proportions of D-glucuronic acid and acetyl glucosamine occupying alternating positions in the molecule.
Similarly to cellulose and amylose, hyaluronic acid can be regarded as a polymer that arises from the repeat of a disaccharide unit.
The molecular weight varies depending on the source with reported values ranging from a few hundred thousand to well over million. Large polymers of Hyaluronic acid form mesh that enables it to bind a large amount of water.
The concentration of hyalorunic acid in the human body ranges from less than 0.1 ug/ml in human blood plasma to more than 4 mg/ml in the umbilical cord.
In loose connective tissue such as binding of tissue fluid forms a jellylike matrix filling the space between capillaries and cells.
Recently, the moisturizing qualities of hyaluronic acid have been exploited by the cosmetics industry as an effective moisturizer for skincare.
Hyaluronic acid in human body
