4. • Content
• Synonym
• Biological source
• Geographical source
• Family
• Collection and formation
• Description
• Chemical Constituents
• Uses
• Chemical tests
5. Tragacanth
• Synonyms :- Gum Tragacanth, Tragacantha.
• Biological source :- It is the dried gummy exudation obtained by
incision from stems and branches of Astragalus
gummifer .
6. • Geographical source :- The tragacanth mainly found in Greece, Iraq
and Iran.
It’s some species found in India.
• Family :- Leguminosae..
7. •Collection and formation :-
1. Tragacanth gum is formed as a result of
transformation of the cells of pitch and medulary
rays into gummy substance .
2. Incision are more on various parts of the steam
and fluid which oozes out is collected after drying.
3. Tragacanth is found irregular flattened flakes with
ribbon like appearance depending upon the
Incisions made on the plant.
4. It is Collected from April to November every year.
8. • Description :-
• Colour :- White or pale yellow.
• Odour :- odorless.
• Taste :- Tasteless.
• Size :- About 3cm long, 1cm width and 2mm thick.
• Shape :- thin flattened ribbon like flakes.
• Solubility :- Purly soluble in water but insoluble in alcohol.
• Features :- The gum is translucent with transverse and
longitudinal ridges . Fracture of the drug is short.
9. • Chemical constituents :-
1. Tragacanth contains two fractions of which one is soluble in water .
2. The water soluble portion of the tragacanth is known as tragacanth,
consisting about 8 to 10% of the gum.
3. Water insoluble portion is known as bassorin. (60 – 70%)
4. Tragacanth contains about 15% of methoxy group which swells in
water.
5. It is the constituent of the gum responsible for it’s high viscosity.
6. The product of hydrolysis are- Galactouronic acid
D- galactopyranose
L- arabino – rhamnose
D- Xylopyranose.
10. •Uses :-
1. Demulcent.
2. Emollient in cosmetics.
3. Thickening, suspending and emulsifying agent.
4. Mucilage is used as a binding agent in tablet.
5. Powder is used as an adhesive.
6. As a stabilizer for ice-cream in 0.2 to 0.3%.
11. •Chemical test :-
1. Solution of tragacanth + boiled with few drops of
10% aqueous ferric chloride => Deep yellow ppt.
2. A stringy ppt is formed by dissolving tragacanth and
precipitated copper oxide in concentrated
ammonium hydroxide.
3. Solution of tragacanth in water + Solution of sodium
hydroxide => yellow colour gives green colour with
strong iodine solution.
