Tragacanth

Tragacanth is a plant exudate from certain legumes. It is a mixture of various polysaccharides, predominantly with D-galacturonic acid residues. It is used as a thickener in foods, e.g., in salad sauces, ice cream, etc. 

Mucopolysaccharides are a group of acidic alternating copolymers containing acetamido groups (Table 31-7). Hyaluronic acid (see Section 31.5.3.2) belongs to this group, as do chondroitin, chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate, and dermatan sulfate. 

Chondroitin sulfate (formerly chondroitin sulfuric acid ) was first isolated from the rib cartilage of human corpses. In the middle of the last century, the analysis proved to be difficult since the substance contained nitrogen, and amino sugars were then unknown. So the professor and his assistant made the usual division of labor. The professor gave the substance its name (originally chondroitic acid ). The assistant ate the product under rigid dietary conditions, and sugar was found in his urine, which established the chemical nature of the compound. For this, the assistant s name came first in the published report. 

In the body, chondroitin sulfate undertakes sulfate exchange and effects calcination of the bones. It is localized in quite specific sites in the body and decreases with the age of the animal. 

BP Tragacanth JP Tragacanth PhEur Tragacantha USPNF Tragacanth See also Section 18. 

E413 goat s thorn gum benjamin gum dragon gum tragacanth persian tragacanth trag tragant. 

Tragacanth is a naturally occurring dried gum obtained from Astragalus gummifer Eabillardiere and other species of Astragalus grown in Western Asia see Section 13. 

The gum consists of a mixture of water-insoluble and water-soluble polysaccharides. Bassorin, which constitutes 60-70% of the gum, is the main water-insoluble portion, while the remainder of the gum consists of the water-soluble material tragacanthin. On hydrolysis, tragacanthin yields L-arabinose, L-fucose, D-xylose, D-galactose, and D-galacturonic acid. Tragacanth gum also contains small amounts of cellulose, starch, protein, and ash. 

Tragacanth gum is used as an emulsifying and suspending agent in a variety of pharmaceutical formulations. It is used in creams, gels, and emulsions at various concentrations according to the application of the formulation and the grade of gum used. 

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Gum tragacanth is obtained from the large tap root and branches of a small perennial shmb found in the Middle East, especially Iran. Chemically, it is a mixture of water-insoluble polysaccharides. It is stable to heat, acidity, and aging, and is used extensively in pourable low calorie salad dressings. 

The FCC is to food-additive chemicals what the USP—NF is to dmgs. In fact, many chemicals that are used in dmgs also are food additives (qv) and thus may have monographs in both the USP—NF and in the FCC. Examples of food-additive chemicals are ascorbic acid [50-81-7] (see Vitamins), butylated hydroxytoluene [128-37-0] (BHT) (see Antioxidants), calcium chloride [10043-52-4] (see Calcium compounds), ethyl vanillin [121-32-4] (see Vanillin), ferrous fumarate [7705-12-6] and ferrous sulfate [7720-78-7] (see Iron compounds), niacin [59-67-6] sodium chloride [7647-14-5] sodium hydroxide [1310-73-2] (see lkaliand cm ORiNE products), sodium phosphate dibasic [7558-79-4] (see Phosphoric acids and phosphates), spearmint oil [8008-79-5] (see Oils, essential), tartaric acid [133-37-9] (see Hydroxy dicarboxylic acids), tragacanth [9000-65-1] (see Gums), and vitamin A [11103-57-4]. 

Natural gums are exuded in a variety of shapes characteristic of the species of origin. These shapes include the globular shape of gum arable and the flakes or thread-like ribbons of gum tragacanth (36). 

Although many plant gum exudates are known (37,38), only gum arable, ghatti, karaya, and tragacanth have wide industrial use. 

Other thickeners used include derivatives of ceUulose such as methylceUulose, hydroxypropylmethylceUulose, and ceUulose gum natural gums such as tragacanth and xanthan (see Cellulose ethers Gums) the carboxyvinyl polymers and the poly(vinyl alcohol)s. The magnesium aluminum siHcates, glycol stearates, and fatty alcohols in shampoos also can affect viscosity. 

Natural Gums. These were used in early styling products, formerly called wave sets. Natural gums generally make hazy solutions and the dried film tends to flake. For these reasons they are rarely used. Some of these gums, eg, tragacanth and alginates, can create humidity-resistant films and have limited use for specific product concepts. 

A rationalization of the complex behavior of pectins in solutions and gels with respect to their stmcture, solvation, and the presence of ions and other saccharides has been presented (123). The solution and sorption properties of gum tragacanth and the pectin isolated from the roots of Hibiscus mani/)ot F (Tororoaoi) contributes to their use in specialty paper manufacture (124—126). 

The following materials may be ground at ordinary temperatures if only the regular commerci fineness is required amber, arabac, tragacanth, rosin, olibanum, gum benzoin, myrrh, guaiacum, and montau wax. If a finer product is required, hammer mills or attrition mills in closed circuit, with screens or air classifiers, are used. 

Trafo, abbreo. (Transformator) transformer. Tragant, m. tragacanth. -gummi, n. gum tragacanth. -schieim, m. tragacanth mucilage. -stoff, m. bassorin. 

Gum acacia gum tragacanth (a similar gum) gum karaya (also a similar gum) gum ghatti (also a similar gum)... 

It is used in hard candies and as a foam stabilizer in marshmallows. The similar products gum tragacanth, gum karaya, and gum ghatti are used in much the same way—as acid-resistant thickeners in sauces and salad dressings. 

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