Gum Tragacanth

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Other names/abbreviations:

Bassora gum Goat's thorn Hog gum Gum Shiraz Tragtex R

Material type:	Polymer
Material group:	Hetero polysaccharide, branched
Monomer(s):	L-arabinofuranose L-fucan D-galactose D-galacturonic acid D-xylose
Origin of the polymer:	Natural
CAS-Number:	9000-65-1

Structure

D-galactose, D-galacturonic acid, L-fucose, D-xylose, L-arabinose (ratio not known). The acidic components are largely present as calcium, magnesium and potassium salts. It is believed that the gum is composed of the two components bassorin (60-70%, water insoluble) and tragacanthin (30-40%, water soluble). It has been suggested, that bassorin is complex structure of polymethoxylated acids, that om demethoxylation, probably yields tragacanthin. Tragacanthin consists of a ring containing three molecules of glucoronic acid and one molecule of arabinose, with a side chain of two molecules of arabinose [1].

Chemical properties

Tragacanth contains small amounts of cellulose, starch, and protein material. The size of the molecule is 4500 Å by 19 Å. Gum tragacanth solutions are acidic, usually pH = 5-6, where is is most stable. Maximum stable viscosity is at pH=5. The gum is resistant to acidic hydrolysis [1].

Biological properties

Antiviral activity:

Inhibitor/Concentration (μg/mL)	200
Adsorption HSV-1 in Vero cells [2]	80
Adsorption HSV-2 in Vero cells [2]	80
Adsorption and replication HSV-1 in Vero cells [2]	80
Adsorption and replication HSV-2 in Vero cells [2]	75

Inhibition of virus multiplication in cells.

Cell line	Concentration
Vero cells [2]	200

Maximal non-cytotoxic concentration (μg/mL).

Physical properties

Appearance
	Physical state @ 20°C:	Solid
	Color:	White

Bulk properties
	Molecular weight (g/mol):	840,000 (Approximately) [1]

Occurence, isolation & synthesis

Occurence
Astragalus plants [1].

References

1: Glicksman,M. Gum Technology in the Food Industry
(1969) Academic Press

2: Marchetti,M., Pisani,S., Pietropaolo,V., Seganti,L., Nicoletti,R., Orsi,N. Inhibition of Herpes Simplex Virus Infection by Negatively Charged and Neutral Carbohydrate Polymers
J. Chemother. (1995) 7 90-96

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© Michael Pilgaard
Created: March 10, 2008