[2.5.1] SOURCES OF GUMS AND MUCILAGES

SOURCES OF GUMS AND MUCILAGES

plant exudates

marine sources

seed gums

microbial sources

other sources

plant exudates

acacia or gum arabic

tragacanth

ghatti gum

karaya or sterculia gum

acacia or gum arabic

source

Acacia senegal

Arabin

Complex mixture of Ca, Mg, & K salts of the heteroglycan arabic acid

acacia or gum arabic

constituents

Arabin

acacia or gum arabic

notes

-Tapped in trees around 6 years old

-KORDOFAN VARIETY (in Sudan): best variety

-The gum is white or very pale yellow in color (Kordofan is more transparent)

-After a while, the gum becomes oxidized and turns to a brownish-black color (the color of gum in the lab)

-TALKA GUM: obtained from Acacia seyal

-Incompatible in preparations containing more than 60% alcohol; 5- 6% swells in water

-Used as suspending agent and demulcent

acacia or gum arabic is tapped in trees around __

6 yrs old

acacia or gum arabic

KORDOFAN VARIETY (in Sudan):

Used as suspending agent and demulcent

best variety

TALKA GUM:

obtained from Acacia seyal

acacia or gum arabic IS INCOMPATIBLE IN

preparations containing more than 60% alcohol; 5- 6% swells in water

acacia or gum arabic

APPEARANCE

The gum is white or very pale yellow in color (Kordofan is more transparent)

After a while, the gum becomes oxidized and turns to a brownish-black color (the color of gum in the lab)

Properties of a Suspending Agents:

High solubility in water

Has an emulsifying capability

Tragacanth

source

Astragalus gummifer

Hog tragacanth:

lower grades of tragacanth (used in Textile industry and pickle manufacturer)

Tragacanth

constituents

Bassorin (60-70%)

Tragacanthin (~30%)

Tragacanth

notes

-35-36% swells in water; more resistant to acid hydrolysis (works in low pH)

-Best grades contain least tragacanthin

-High bassorin content gives the most viscous mucilages

Tragacanth

Best grades contain

least tragacanthin

Tragacanth

-35-36% swells in water; more __

resistant to acid hydrolysis (works in low pH)

Bassorin (60-70%)

Swelling Component

-Insoluble fraction

-Responsible for gel forming properties

High Basorin levels

= High viscosity

Tragacanthin (~30%)

Water Soluble

types of tragacanth

vermiform

tragacanth sorts

ribbon/ flake gum

Vermiform:

wormlike, twisted in coils

Tragacanth sorts:

tearlike

Ribbon / flake gum:

has longitudinal striations

Ghatti gum

source

Anogeissus latifolia

Ghatti gum

constituents

Hydrocolloid

Ghatti gum

notes

Acacia substitute (more viscous)

Karaya or Sterculia Gum

source

Sterculia urens

Karaya or Sterculia Gum

constituents

D-galacturonic acid

D-glucuronic acid

Karaya or Sterculia Gum

notes

Good quality gum- almost colorless and translucent

Medium grades- pinkish

Lower grades- very dark

Karaya or Sterculia Gum

uses

Bulk laxative (in old preparation Movicol), emulsifier, dental adhesive

Karaya or Sterculia Gum forms a

discontinuous type of mucilage

karaya or sterculia gum

D-galacturonic acid

-responsible for the laxative properties

-High hydrophilicity and gel-like mass consistency = softens stool, triggers peristalsis, and promotes bowel movement

MARINE SOURCES ("MARINE GUMS" OR "MARINE HYDROCOLLOIDS")

agar

algin

kelp

carrageenan

danish agar

Agar / Japanese Isinglass

gulaman

Agar / Japanese Isinglass

sources

Gelidium cartilagineum;

Gracilaria confervoides

Agar / Japanese Isinglass

notes

Ingredient of culture media (solidifying agents with corresponding ratio)

Laxative

Suspending agent

Agar / Japanese Isinglass

constituents: agarose

responsible for gel strength

Plays a bigger roles in the properties of culture media

Agar / Japanese Isinglass

constituents: agaropectin

Responsible for viscosity

Plays a bigger roles in laxatives and suspending agents

Agar / Japanese Isinglass

constituents

agarose

agaropectin

Algin

Not bought directly but in salt form only (Alginate)

Algin

source

Macrocystis pyrifera

Algin

constituents

alginic acid

Algin

notes

Suspending agent

Food (ice cream, chocolates)

Antiulcer (sodium alginate - salt form)

Kelp

source

Laminaria, Ascophyllum,

Ecklonia, Nereocytis

Kelp

constituents

Alginic acid

Alginic acid

Mannuronic acid units interspersed with guluronic acids

Kelp

notes

Iodine source

Dilates cervix

Antiobesity

For atherosclerosis

Kelp

giant seaweeds

Carrageenan or Irish moss

Philippines (Cebu) is one of the biggest suppliers

Carrageenan or Irish moss

sources

Chondrus crispus;

Gigartina mamillosa

Carrageenan or Irish moss

constituents

κ-carrageenan and ι-carrageenan

λ-carrageenan

Carrageenan or Irish moss

notes

Ingredient in infant milk powder

Carrageenan or Irish moss

constituents: κ-carrageenan and ι-carrageenan

Gelling property

Carrageenan or Irish moss

constituents: λ-carrageenan

Non gelling property

Thickener

Danish Agar

source

Furcellaria fastigiata

Danish Agar

constituents

κ-carrageenan-like

Danish Agar

notes

Suspending agent

Gelling agent

SEED GUMS

plantago/ psyllium/ plantain seed/ ispaghula husk

Plantago / Psyllium /

Plantain Seed / Ispaghula husk

Plantin (Tagalog)

Can be sourced from the strawberry farm in Baguio

Plantago / Psyllium /

Plantain Seed / Ispaghula husk

source

Powdered seed coat of Plantago psyllium (Spanish)

Plantago ovata (Blonde/Indian)

2 Parts of the Powdered Seed Coat:

Testa and Tegmen

Plantago / Psyllium /

Plantain Seed / Ispaghula husk

constituents

Hydrocolloid

Plantago / Psyllium /

Plantain Seed / Ispaghula husk

constituents Hydrocolloid

Consists of many different sugar

Plantago / Psyllium /

Plantain Seed / Ispaghula husk

notes

Bulk laxative: should be taken with considerable amount of water

Can be absorb and retain water = softens stool

Cydonium / Quince Seed

source

Cydonia vulgaris

Family: Rosaceae

Cydonium / Quince Seed

notes

Demulcent

Emulsifying agent in hair fixing lotion

Cydonium / Quince Seed

constituents

Arabinose, other uronic acids

Guar gum or Guaran

source

Powdered endosperm of Cyamopsis tetragonolobus

Endosperm;

Whatever is left after the seed coat is peeled (e.g. cooked rice)

Peeled peanut

: Cotyledon

Guar gum or Guaran

notes

Laxative

Oral hypoglycemic claims

Guar gum or Guaran

constituents

Galactomannans

Guar gum or Guaran

constituents: Galactomannans

Gal + Man

Locust bean has less gal than guar

Locust Bean Gum /

Carob Pulp or St. John's Bread

source

Flesh of mature seed pods/ legumes ("flour") of Ceratonia siliqua

Locust Bean Gum /

Carob Pulp or St. John's Bread

constituents

Galactomannans

Locust Bean Gum /

Carob Pulp or St. John's Bread

notes

Flour or the carob resembles chocolate used by John the Baptist

thickener, stabilizer

MICROBIAL SOURCES ("MICROBIAL GUM")

xanthan gum

xanthan gum

source

Xanthomonas campestris

NOT the source but ferments glucose to become a xanthan gum

xanthan gum

notes

Has pseudoplastic (shear thinning) activity - used in toothpastes and ointments

Suspending agent

Emulsifier

Stabilize

Shear thinning

- when pressure is applied, the material becomes less viscous

OTHER SOURCES OF GUMS AND MUCILAGE

marshmallow root

couch grass rhizome

sliperry elm bark

Marshmallow Root

Althaea officinalis

Couch Grass Rhizome

Agropyron repens

Slippery Elm Bark

Ulmus rubra

Marshmallow Root

10% mucilage

Demulcent for irritable coughs and throat and gastric inflammation

Couch Grass Rhizome

10% mucilage and fructan triticin

Diuretic for bladder and kidney complaints

Slippery Elm Bark

Outer part of bark is removed - only inner part is being dried

Demulcent

Emollient

Nutritive properties