Tragacanth

Synonyms: E413; goat’s thorn; gum benjamin; gum dragon; gum tragacanth; persian tragacanth; trag; tragant; tragacantha.

Description: Tragacanth gum occurs as flattened, lamellated, frequently curved fragments, or as straight or spirally twisted linear pieces from 0.5–2.5 mm in thickness; it may also be obtained in a powdered form. White to yellowish in color, tragacanth is a translucent, odorless substance, with an insipid mucilaginous taste.

Chemical Name: Tragacanth gum

Suspending agent; viscosity-increasing agent.

• Tragacanth gum is used as an emulsifying and suspending agent in a variety of pharmaceutical formulations.

• It is used in creams, gels, and emulsions at various concentrations according to the application of the formulation and the grade of gum used.

• Tragacanth gum is also used similarly in cosmetics and food products, and has been used as a diluent in tablet formulations.

The addition of strong mineral and organic acids can reduce the viscosity of tragacanth dispersions. Viscosity may also be reduced by the addition of alkali or sodium chloride, particularly if the dispersion is heated. Tragacanth is compatible with relatively high salt concentrations and most other natural and synthetic suspending agents such as acacia, carboxymethylcellulose, starch, and sucrose. A yellow colored, stringy, precipitate is formed with 10% w/v ferric chloride solution.

Tragacanth has been used for many years in oral pharmaceutical formulations and food products, and is generally regarded as an essentially nontoxic material. Tragacanth has been shown to be noncarcinogenic. However, hypersensitivity reactions, which are occasionaly severe, have been reported following ingestion of products containing tragacanth. Contact dermatitis has also been reported following the topical use of tragacanth formulations.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Tragacanth gum may be irritant to the skin and eyes. Eye protection, gloves, and a dust mask are recommended.

Tragacanth gum is a naturally occurring material whose physical properties vary greatly according to the grade and source of the material. Samples can contain relatively high levels of bacterial contamination. Hog gum (caramania gum), obtained from species of Prunus, and sterculia gum have been used in industrial applications as substitutes for tragacanth