Page 14 - Major Gum Resin-E-Book

Introduction

Millions of people throughout the world especially in developing countries are dependent
on gums and resins for their livelihood. Gums are used in food, pharmaceuticals, textiles,
cosmetics, ceramics, chemical industries, lithography, inks, leather industry, adhesives and
explosives. Resins find a range of applications in the field of surface coating like wood
varnishes, paints, lacquers, polishes, food coatings, sizing paper and sealing wax. They are
also used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, perfumery, incense, handicraft, jewelry etc. Higher
returns can be obtained by value addition and development of new derivatives of NRGs for
their utilization in food and agriculture.

The uses of natural resins and gums in food, medicines and in varnishes or as protective
coatings are known since time immemorial. The present day uses of natural gums and
resins are numerous and they are employed by a large number of manufacturing industries
including food, pharmaceutical, textile, refineries, cosmetics, paper and many other
industries.
Ancient literatures
Many NRGs are traditionally known for their medicinal and therapeutic values since ancient
times and their medicinal values are also illustrated in Ayurveda. Though medicinal uses
of these NRGs especially guggul, dikamali, palas gum, dammars, etc. are still in practice in
many parts of India, no scientific studies to justify these details are available. It is required
to study the properties and usefulness of these natural resources to justify our ancient
literature.
Socio-economic significance

NRG along with other non-wood forest
products (NWFPs) have for many years
been seen as providing fertile ground
for community development initiatives,
especially those focused on rural,
remote, indigenous, and/or economically
marginalized communities and also helping
in conservations of forests. Production and
marketing of such natural products is greatly Manual grading of gums by labours
influenced by vagaries of weather, uncertain prices, limited and diminishing resources, etc.

India has a long history of local community involvement in managing forests. Forest
dwellers are engaged in various activities like collection, bundling, grading and packaging
of NWFPs at village level. It was the major source of income as well as nutritional security
of the forest dwellers during lean period. During summer season, the gum producing trees
exudates the drops of gum which is very nutritive as well as medicinal use. The analysis
shows that forest dwellers consume the mahua flowers, tamarind and edible gums
during collection of NWFPs. These products were contributing major role in nutritional
security in tribal area directly through consumption and indirectly by generating
supplementary income.
Major gum and resin plants of India 5