Tragacanth is a dried gummy exudation obtained from incisions made on the stems and branches of Astragalus gummifer. It occurs in thin, flattened, ribbon-like flakes that are white or pale yellowish-white in color. Tragacanth contains two fractions - the water-soluble portion called tragacanthin and the water-insoluble portion called bassorin. It is used as a demulcent, emollient, and thickening, suspending, and emulsifying agent in pharmaceutical and food products.

1. PHARMACOGNOSY OF TRAGACANTH
Academica In-Charge, HOD,
PritamJuvatkar
Mobile :
Email : pritamjuvatkar@gmail.Com
9987779536
Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistr
Konkan Gyanpeeth Rahul Dharkar College of
Pharmacy and Research Institute, karjat

2. PHARMACOGNOSY OF TRAGACANTH
• Content
• Synonym
• Biological source
• Family
• Macroscopic characters
• Chemical constituents
• Uses
• Substitute
• Chemical test
9987779536
Pritam Vijay juvatkar

3. Synonym: Gum Tragacanth, Tragacantha..
Biological source:
• It is the dried gummy exudation obtained by incision from stems and branches of
Astragalus gummifer
Family: Leguminosae.
9987779536
Pritam Vijay juvatkar
PHARMACOGNOSY OF TRAGACANTH

4. Collection:
• Tragacanth gum is formed as a result of transformation of the cells of pith and medullary
rays into gummy substance.
• Incisions are more on various parts of the stem and fluid which oozes out is collected after
drying,
• Tragacanth is found Irregular flattened flakes with ribbon like appearance depending upon
the incisions made on the plant.
• It is collected from April to November every year.
9987779536
Pritam Vijay juvatkar
PHARMACOGNOSY OF TRAGACANTH

5. Macroscopical characters:
• Colour: The flakes are white or pale yellowish white..
• Odour: Odourless
• Taste: Mucilaginous.
 Size: Flakes are approximately 25 x 12 x 2 mm in size,
 Shape: Tragacanth occurs in the form of thin flattened ribbon like flakes, more or less curved
 Extra features: The gum is horny, translucent with transverse and longitudinal ridges. Fracture of the
drug is short.
9987779536
Pritam Vijay juvatkar
PHARMACOGNOSY OF TRAGACANTH

6. Chemical constituents:
• Tragacanth contains two fractions of which one is soluble in water
• The water-soluble portion of the tragacanth is known as tragacathin, constituting about 8 to 10% of the gum.
• Water-insoluble portion is known as bassorin (60 to 70%).
• Tragacanth contains about 15% of methoxy group which swells In water.
• It is the constituent of the gum responsible for its high viscosity,
• The product of hydrolysis are
• Galactouronic acid
• D-galactopyranose
• L-arabino-rhamnose
• D-xylopyranose
9987779536
Pritam Vijay juvatkar
PHARMACOGNOSY OF TRAGACANTH

7. Uses
• Demulcent
• Emollient in cosmetics
• Thickening , suspending and emulsifying agent
• Mucilage is used as a binding agent in tablet
• Powder is used as an adhesive
• As a stabiliser for ice-cream in 0.2 to 0.3%
• Also in sauces
.
9987779536
Pritam Vijay juvatkar
PHARMACOGNOSY OF TRAGACANTH

8. Chemical test:
• Solution of tragacanth + boiled with few drops of 10% aq Ferric chloride = Deep yellow ppt.
• A stringy precipitate is formed by dissolving tragacanth and precipitated copper oxide in
concentrated ammonium hydroxide.
• Solution of Tragacanth in water + solution of sodium hydroxide = canary yellow colour gives
green color with strong iodine solution.
9987779536
Pritam Vijay juvatkar
PHARMACOGNOSY OF TRAGACANTH