1. : Acacia and Tragacanth
Pharmaceutical Aids
: Acacia and Tragacanth

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

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

15. 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

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

17. Quiz
2. Acacia belongs to
Leguminosae
Apidae
Solanaceae
Graminae

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

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

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