Page 5 - Physicochemical properties of Indian plant gums- IINRG, Ranchi

Preface

Plants based natural gums are hydrophilic
carbohydrate polymers of high molecular
lelfing effect.
weights that can be dissolved or dispersed in water to give a ihickening and
rn"f
These are colloidal in nature and referred as nyaropniic colloids or
'ya.oittoia-"..
are generally insoluble in oils or organic solvents such as hydrocarbons, ether, or arcohols.
Plant gums are mainly classified as (i) exudates gums whici are exudates from the bark of
trees or sbrubs and (ii) seed gums which are obtained from endosperm ofthe seed.
There is a growing interest worldwide in natural gums particularly in food, pharmaceuticar
and cosmetics apprications. India is a rich centre ofbiodiversity and offers great potential
14
j for the sustainable ut ization of these natural resources by converting plant wealth into
economic wealth. Their increased role in socio-economic deveropmerit, incentive design
and livelihood support is already well appreciated as a major part around g0
percent of
natural gums produced in our country are exported.
The physico-chemical properties of natural gums are of first importance in determining
their uses and their commercial value. The numerous technologicar applications ofnatural
gums can be attributed to their physico-chemical properties. However the physicochemical

Foperties are known to vary considerably with botanical sources, soil and climate, age,
absorbed impurities, treatment after collection and storage conditions. Gums are water
soluble or water dispersibre hydrocolroids, andposses surp"ndirrg, di.p"rsing and stabilizing
properties. They can act as emulsifiers, coagulants, adhesives, bulking, encapsulatingl
flocculating, gelling, suspending, swelling, thickening and whipping agenis, crystallizatioin
inhibitors' film formers, stabilizers and protective conoids. oue to the above properties
the industrial applications ofgum have expanded tremendously in recent years. The major
uses are in food, pharmaceutical,
cosmetic, textile, paper and petroleum industries. The
vast scope ofgums and its contribution to economy call for sustained research input mainly
in the areas of grading, quality irnprovement, value addition and use diversification. The
present bulletin can serve as a useful information source which may be helpful to accelerate
i the research progralnme on commercially important Indian gums. Research on value
addition and application will help to increase the exports and the income generation of
tribals who collect it.

The author acknowledges the help received from National Botanical Research Institute
(NBRI), Lucknow, Forest Research Insritute (FRI), Dehradun and Indian Institute of
Technology (trT), Kharagpur, during the collection of information on various gums. Thanks
are especially due to prof. R. N. choudhary and prof. B. K. Mathur of Departrnent of

Physics & Meteorology, trT Kharagpur for their kind help during collection of information
on gums.

KPSao