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.

Macroscopical Characters of Tragacanth

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

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.

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).

Commercial Utility

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

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