Acacia Indian Gum|Acacia arabica Synonyms, Source, Tests, uses hello friends here we are going to discuss about Acacia Indian Gum as a pharmaceutical Aid we are going to discuss topics are synonyms, biological source, Geographical distribution, Cultivation and collection, description, Extra features, Solubility, standard, chemical constituents, identification, uses, Tests, substitutes and Adulterants,storage.
Acacia
Acacia arabica
It is a type of pharmaceutical Aids. The substance which are of little or no therapeutic value but used in manufacture or compounding of various pharmaceuticals are known as pharmaceutical aids or pharmaceutical necessities.
They are obtained from the various sources such as animals, vegetables, minerals and other purely synthetic.
It iis used as emulsifying and suspending agents.
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Acacia pharmacognosy
Synonyms : Gum Acacia, Gum Arabic
Biological source : Indian Gum is the dried gummy exudation obtained from the stem and branches of Acacia arabica wild, belonging to family Leguminosae.
Geographical distribution :
The pplant is found in india, Sri Lanka and Africa. In India, it occurs in punjab, rajasthan and Western ghats.
Cultivation and collection :
It is ccommon member of dry monsoon forest of India. It is an evergreen tree with short trunk. It is not cultivated on commercial scale. Gum is collected from wild grown plants made free of bark and foreign organic matters, dried in sun, which also results in partial bleaching of gum.
Description :
Color : Tears are clean brown to red in color, while powder is light brown in colour.
Odour : Odourless
Taste : Bland and Mucilaginous
Size and shape : Irregular broken tears of varying size.
Extra features : The tears are glossy and marked with minute fissures and are brittle in nature. The pieces of broken tears are with angular fragments and blistering with difficulty and with conchoidal fracture.
Solubility : It is soluble in water. The watery solution is viscous and Acidic. It is insoluble in alcohol.
Standards : it should contain not more than 15% of moisture and 5 % of Ash :, Indian Gum should not contain tannin, starch and dextrin.
Chemical constituents of acacia
It cconsists of a principally of Arabin. Which is a complex mixture of calcium, magnesium and potassium salts of Arabic acid. Arabic acid on Hydrolysis gives L rhamnose, D galactose and D glucuronic acid. It is also contains an enzyme oxidase.
Identification tests
- Solution of lead sub acetate gelatinizes the aqueous solution of Indian Gum.
- It does not produce pink colour solution of ruthenium red.
- To tthe aqueous solution of gum Acacia, add 0.5ml of solution of hydrogen peroxide and 0.5ml of solution of benzidine in alcohol. Shake it well. A blue colour is produced. Benzidine is carcinogenic, therefore the test is no longer advocated.
- Hydrolyse the aqueous solution of gum Acacia in presence of dilute hydrochloric acid by boiling. To it add feelings solution A and B heat. Red ppt obtain which confirms that the presence of reducing sugar as the product of hydrolysis.
Acacia uses
Acacia is a Demulcent. It is also administered intravenously in haemolysis. In the form of a mucilage, it is a used as a suspending agent, in mixtures with resinous substance. Acacia is a good emulsifying agent for fixed oils, volatile oils and a also for liquid paraffin. It is good binding agent and is a used in the preparation of lozenges, pastilles and compressed tablets. It is a gum of choice as it compatible with other plant hydrocolloids as well as starches and carbohydrates.
Substituents and adulterants
B. P. variety consists of gum obtained from Acacia snegeal willo, plant of Africa origin and grown in Africa. The tears are rounded or ovoid and about 5 to 40 mm in diameter. Tears are yellowish white in color. It can be used as a substitute to Indian Gum.
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Conclusion
So ffriends this was all about Acacia gum which is also called as Indian Gum. A pharmaceutical aid used in industry as emulsifying and suspending agents for many pharmaceutical products. I hope you get a clear understanding of Acacia gum.
