Acasia

Synonym                                              :           Acasia , Gum-acasia , Gum-arabic .

Biological Source                                  :           Indian gum is the dried gummy exudation obtain

                                                                        from the stem and branches of Acacia arbica

Scientific Name                                    :           Acacia arbica

Family                                                  :           Leguminosae .

Geographical Distribution                      :           India ,

Organoleptic Characters :

                        i) Colour                       :           Tears arte cream brown to red in colour while

                                                                         powder is light brown in colour

                        ii) Odour                      :           None

                        iii) Taste                       :           Mucillaginous

                        iv)  Size & shape          :           Irregualr brown tears of varying size

                        v)   Solubility                :           It is soluble in water , the watery solution is

                                                                        viscous and acidic . It is insoluble in alcohol .

                        .

Chemical constituents –  It consist of arabin which is a complex mixture of calcium ,

                                         magnesium and potassium salts of Arabic-acid .

                                          It also contain enzyme oxidase and peroxidase .

Chemical Test

Experiment	Observation	Inference
Solution of lead sub acetate gelatinizes the aquous solution of Indian gum	It does not produce pink colour solution with ruthenium –red	Acacia present
To the aquous solution of gum add the solution of H2O2 and benzidine in alcohol	Blue colour is produced ( due to oxidase enzyme )	Acacia present
Hydrolize the aquous solution of acacia in presence of dilute Hcl . Then add fehling solution A and B and then heat again	Red precipitate will appeared	Acacia present

Uses  - 

i)                    It is used as suspending agent , specifically in mixture with resinious substance .

ii)                   It is a good emulsifying agent for fixed-oil , volatile-oils and for liquid-paraffin

iii)                 It is a good bindin g agen t

iv)                 It is also administered I.V in haemolysis .

v)                  Acasia is a demulcent ( substance to soothen surfaces particularly mucous membrane )