Suspending agents acacia

D. Oral suspensions Additives are very similar to C, only flavorings are included along with suspending agents such as the gums, tragacanth, acacia, and bentonite. 

Acacia (gum arabic) is a dried gum from the stems and branches of the tree Acacia Senegal (Leguminosae/Fabaceae), abundant in the Sudan and Central and West Africa. Trees are tapped by removing a portion of the bark. The gum is used as a suspending agent, and adhesive and binder for tablets. The carbohydrate is a complex branched-chain material, which yields L-arabinose, D-galactose, D-glucuronic acid, and L-rhamnose on hydrolysis. Occluded enzymes (oxidases, peroxidases, and pectinases) can cause problems in some formulations, unless inactivated by heat. 

Acacia gum A mixture of structurally related polysaccharides, the main one is based on P-D-galactopyranose residues Natural plant exudates solutions are stable at pH 2-7 and display relatively low viscosity Emulsifying or suspending agents, adhesive and binders (in tablets)... 

Powdered acacia Dispersing agent, suspending agent im, sc... 

It is an effective suspending agent for pharmaceuticals and is used in conjunction with acacia as an emulsifier, the tragacanth imparting a high stmctural viscosity while the gum arabic adsorbs at the oil/water interface. It is also used in spermicidal jellies, acting by immobilising spermatozoa and as a viscous barrier. 

---