Tragacanth

  • Tragacanth is a natural gum obtained from Astragalus species, used as a stabilizer, emulsifier, and thickening agent.
  • Tragacanth is applied in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food industries for its binding, soothing, and suspending properties.

General Information

  • Synonyms: Gum Tragacanths, Shiraz gum.
  • Biological Source:

    • Dried exudate from Astragalus gummifer.
  • Family: Fabaceae.
  • Geographical Source:

    • Found in Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, India.
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Tragacanth

Macroscopical Characters of Tragacanth

  • Color: White to yellowish.
  • Texture: Hard, tough, ribbon-like flakes.
  • Taste: Mucilaginous.
  • Odor: Odorless.
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Chemical Constituents of Tragacanth

  • Polysaccharides: Bassorin (swells in water), Tragacanthin (soluble).
  • Sugars: Galacturonic acid, Arabinose, Xylose.

Preparation

  1. Collection: Exudate scraped from plant bark.
  2. Purification: Dried and powdered.
  3. Processing: Packaged for use in pharmaceuticals.
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Evaluation

  • Solubility: Swells in water but does not dissolve completely.
  • Purity Tests:

    • Swelling Index (Hydration capacity).

Preservation & Storage

  • Stored in cool, dry places to prevent spoilage.

Therapeutic Uses

  • Demulcent (used in sore throat treatments).
  • Emulsifier in suspensions and creams.
  • Laxative (bulk-forming agent).
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Commercial Utility

  • Used in pharmaceuticals (binding agent in tablets).
  • Used in food industry (thickening agent).

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