Pectin acts as a natural prophylactic substance against
poisoning with toxic cations. It has been shown to be effective in
removing lead and mercury from the gastrointestinal tract and
respiratory organs (Kohn, 1982). When injected intravenously,
pectin shortens the coagulation time of drawn blood, thus being useful
in controlling hemorrhage or local bleeding (Joseph, 1956). Pectin
and combinations of pectin with other colloids have been used
extensively to treat diarrheal diseases, especially in infants and
children. Although a bactericidal action of pectin has been proposed
to explain the effectiveness of pectin treating diarrhea, most
experimental results do not support this theory. However, some
evidence suggests that under certain in-vitro conditions