chondroitin sulfate

1 definition found

chondroitin sulfate - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  chondroitin sulfate \chon*dro"it*in sul"fate\
     (k[o^]n*dr[=o]"[i^]*t[i^]n s[u^]l"f[=a]t), n. [Gr. cho`ndros
     cartilage.] (Physiol. Chem.)
     A colorless, amorphous, mucopolysaccharide having N-acetyl
     chondrosine as the repeating unit with one sulfate group per
     disaccharide. Typical preparations have a molecular weight of
     about 50,000. Preparations are sold over-the-counter, often
     referred to as chondroitin, with the putative ability to
     relieve pain in joints and assist joint cartilage growth or
     regeneration; such claims are, as of 2001, yet unproven.
     [PJC]