What is the use of tragacanth mucilage?

What is the use of tragacanth mucilage?

Powders using tragacanth as a basis were sometimes called diatragacanth. As a mucilage or paste, it has been used as a topical treatment for burns. It is used in pharmaceuticals and foods as an emulsifier, thickener, stabilizer, and texturant additive (E number E413).

What is the use of tragacanth in suspension?

Tragacanth is used as a suspending agent, emulsifier, thickener, and stabilizer.

Is mucilage present in tragacanth?

Good-quality tragacanth should contain not less than 60% bassorin. Mucilage of tragacanth consists of a suspension of the colloidal gel of bassorin dispersed throughout the colloidal solution of tragacanthin.

What is the taste of tragacanth?

• Tragacanth is a natural gum obtained from the dried sap of several species of Middle Eastern legumes of the genus Astragalus [18]. It is a viscous, odorless, tasteless, water-soluble mixture of polysaccharides.

What is the composition of tragacanth powder?

Leguminosae); consists mainly of high molecular-weight polysaccharides (galactoarabans and acidic polysaccharides) which, on hydrolysis, yield galacturonic acid, galactose, arabinose, xylose and fucose; small amounts of rhamnose and of glucose (derived from traces of starch and/or cellulose) may also be present.

Is gum tragacanth bad?

When taken by mouth: Tragacanth is LIKELY SAFE when taken in food amounts. It seems to be POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth as a medicine. But be sure to take it with plenty of water. It can block the intestines if you do not drink enough fluid.

Is tragacanth soluble in alcohol?

Tragacanth consists of a water-soluble fraction known as tragacanthin and a water-insoluble fraction known as bassorin; they have molecular weights of the order of 840 000. Both are insoluble in alcohol.

Is tragacanth gum soluble in water?

Gum tragacanth consists two major fractions: a water-soluble (tragacanthic acid and small amount of an arabinogalactan) and an insoluble but water-swellable fraction named bassorin. Tragacanthic acid and bassorin are insoluble in ethanol but arabinogalactan is soluble in a mixture of ethanol–water (7:3) [3].

How will you differentiate between tragacanth and Bassorin?

Constituents. Tragacanth consists of a water-soluble fraction known as tragacanthin and a water-insoluble fraction known as bassorin; they have molecular weights of the order of 840 000. Both are insoluble in alcohol. If the tragacanthin content and moisture content are known, the amount of bassorin may be calculated.

Is tragacanth water-soluble?

Tragacanth is one of the most acid-resistance gums and most efficient natural emulsifier for acidic oil-in-water emulsions [2]. Gum tragacanth consists two major fractions: a water-soluble (tragacanthic acid and small amount of an arabinogalactan) and an insoluble but water-swellable fraction named bassorin.

What is tragacanth mucilage used for?

Mucilage of tragacanth and compound powder of tragacanth are used for these purposes, the latter combining the suspending powers of tragacanth and gum acacia, while the starch present tends to prevent agglomeration of the deposit.

What is the difference between gum acacia and tragacanth mucilage?

In some cases, mucilage of tragacanth answers better than mucilage of gum acacia, or a mixture of the two mucilages may give the best results. It is worthy of note that the addition of mucilage of gum acacia to mucilage of tragacanth produces a thinner mixture than the addition of a similar quantity of water.

What are the characteristics of tragacanth?

They are more or less curved, marked on the flat sides with concentric ridges, and are odourless and tasteless. Tragacanth swells in water to a gelatinous mass, but only about 8 to 10 per cent. dissolves. The gum contains from 9 to 13 per cent. of moisture, and yields, on incineration., about 3 per cent. of ash.

What is the use of tragacanth in pharmacy?

Traces of starch and of altered cellulose are also to be found in the gum. Action and Uses.—Tragacanth is employed in pharmacy as a suspending agent in mixtures containing resinous tinctures and heavy insoluble powders, or to emulsify volatile oils.