Final answer:
Cellulose is a carbohydrate and the main component of plants' cell walls, largely making up paper products and textiles. Although humans cannot digest it, it serves as important dietary fiber that can improve digestive health and reduce disease risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate, specifically a polysaccharide, found in the cell walls of plants and certain algae. This organic compound is made up of long chains of glucose units linked by B-1,4-glycosidic bonds, forming a fibrous structure. Cellulose is incredibly abundant due to the vast coverage of vegetation on Earth, making it the most common biochemical compound in the plant kingdom. For example, cotton fibrils and filter paper are composed of about 95% cellulose, wood contains approximately 50%, and the dry weight of leaves is about 10%-20% cellulose.
Cellulose plays a crucial role in both the industrial sector and ecological systems. It is a primary ingredient in the manufacture of paper and paper products, and despite a rise in synthetic noncellulose fibers, cellulose remains a key material in over 70% of textile production, including cotton and rayon. In the context of human nutrition, while cellulose, or dietary fiber, is not digestible by humans due to the lack of suitable enzymes, it significantly contributes to a healthy digestive tract and may reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers.