: Acacia and Tragacanth Pharmaceutical Aids : Acacia and Tragacanth

Objectives On completion of this topic, you would be able to: The monograph of acacia and tragacanth

Acacia Synonyms : Gum Acacia, Gum Arabic.. Biological sources: Dried gummy exudation Obtained from the stem and branches of Acacia arabica wild belonging to family Leguminosae

Acacia Geographical Source : In India occurs in Punjab Rajasthan Western Ghats Sri Lanka Africa Fig.64.1 Acacia plant

Acacia Description : Colour : Tears are Cream brown to red Powder is light brown Odour : Odourless Taste : Bland &mucilaginous Size and shape : Irregular Solubility : Soluble in water Insoluble in alcohol

Acacia Standards: Moisture : Not more than15% Ash : 5 % Chemical Constituents: • Arabin which is complex mixture of Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium salts of Arabic acid • On hydrolysis gives L-rhamnose, D-galactose, D- glucuronic acid Enzyme Oxydase

Acacia Identification Test : Drug + Ruthenium red solution No pink colour 2. Aqua solution of gum acacia + 0.5ml hydrogen peroxide + 0.5ml of solution of Benzidine in alcohol Shake it well Blue colour

Acacia Uses : Storage : Demulcent Haemolysis when administered IV Emulsifying and suspending agent Storage : Stored in well closed containers protected from light and in cool dry place

Tragacanth Synonym : Gum tragacanth, Tragacantha Biological source : Dried gummy exudation obtained from incisions on stems and branches of Astragalus gummifer, Family : Leguminosae

Tragacanth Geographical Source : India Greece Iran Iraq Syria Fig.63.2 Tragacanth plant

Tragacanth Organoleptic characters : Colour : White or pale yellowish white Odour : OdourLess Taste : Taste less Size : 25 x 12 x 2 mm Shape : Thin, Flattened ribbon like flakes

Tragacanth Chemical Constituents : Water soluble portion : 8to 10% Tragacanthin Water insoluble portion : Bassorin Traces of starch and Tragacanthic acid Galacturonic acid D-galactopyranose D-xylopyranose L-arabino-rhamnose

Tragacanth Chemical tests : When warmed with sodium hydroxide solution, Canary yellow colour is developed With strong iodine solution, it gives Green colour

Tragacanth Uses : Demulcent Emollient in cosmetics Thickening agent Suspending agent Binding agent

Summary In this class we learnt about : Acacia is prepared from various species of Acacia arabica It is used as demulcent, emulsifying agent Tragacanth is prepared from various species of Astragalus It is used as demulcent, emulsifying agent, suspending agent, binding

Quiz Acacia obtained from Apis dorsata Arachis hypogea Acacia arabica None of the above

Quiz 2. Acacia belongs to Leguminosae Apidae Solanaceae Graminae

Quiz 3.Tragacanth contains which of the following D-Galactose D-Glucuronic acid D-Xylopyranose Linolein

Quiz 4. Tragacanth belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae Solanaceae Leguminosae Umbelliferae

Frequently asked Questions Write the uses and constituents of Acacia Write the monograph of acacia and Tragacanth What are Pharmaceutical aids. Give examples