Cellulose

Cellulose. This is the main structural polysaccharide of plants. It is the most common organic compound on Earth. Cellulose makes up 40–50% of plant cell walls. Its molecular weight is about 10⁶ D, and the length of molecules can reach up to 6–8 µm. It is a linear polysaccharide composed of glucose residues linked together by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. There are no enzymes in the human digestive system that can break β-1,4 glycosidic bonds, but cellulose, as part of the diet, is necessary for normal digestive function. Cellulose has many -OH groups, making it highly hydrophilic, but due to its large molecular weight and intermolecular bonds, it does not dissolve, only swells.
The breakdown products of cellulose in the soil transform into essential humus compounds that retain their hydrophilicity. Due to their hydrophilic properties, soils rich in humus retain water and dissolved salt ions well, making humus-rich soils fertile. Plant residues containing lignin (fallen leaves, straw, fine peat, grass manure) are suitable for use as organic fertilizers to improve soil structure.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė