Gum Tragacanth (GT): A Versatile Biocompatible Material beyond Borders

The use of naturally occurring materials in biomedicine has been increasingly attracting the researchers’ interest and, in this regard, gum tragacanth (GT) is recently showing great promise as a therapeutic substance in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. As a polysaccharide, GT can be easily extracted from the stems and branches of various species of Astragalus. This anionic polymer is known to be a biodegradable, non-allergenic, non-toxic, and non-carcinogenic material. The stability against microbial, heat and acid degradation has made GT an attractive material not only in industrial settings (e.g., food packaging) but also in biomedical approaches (e.g., drug delivery). Over time, GT has been shown to be a useful reagent in the formation and stabilization of metal nanoparticles in the context of green chemistry. With the advent of tissue engineering, GT has also been utilized for the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds applied for both hard and soft tissue healing strategies. However, more research is needed for defining GT applicability in the future of biomedical engineering. On this object, the present review aims to provide a state-of-the-art overview of GT in biomedicine and tries to open new horizons in the field based on its inherent characteristics.     

Phase Behavior and Formulation of Palm Oil Esters o/w Nanoemulsions Stabilized by Hydrocolloid Gums for Cosmeceuticals Application

Palm oil esters (POEs) are wax esters derived from palm oil and cis-9-octadecen-1-ol. The excellent wetting behaviour of the esters without the oily feel make them have great potentials in the manufacture of cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical products. However, little is known about their phase behaviors in ternary systems. The purpose of this investigation was to construct phase diagram of the POEs and mixed surfactants and to consequently select nanoemulsions composition for further studies. The preparation and characterization of oil-in-water nanoemulsions stabilized by hydrocolloid gums were then studied. Two types of nonionic surfactants were selected, namely Tween 80 (T80) and Span 80 (S80). Ternary phase diagram of POEs:Tocotrienol/T80:S80 (80:20)/water system was constructed at 25.0 ± 0.5°C. The emulsification properties of 2 hydrocolloids gum (xanthan gum, carbopol ultrez 20 copolymer) were investigated. Gum dispersions were prepared in water (0.8%) and emulsified with 30% oil using a Polytron homogenizer. The flow curve of the emulsions always exhibited shear thinning behavior and obeys the power law viscosity. The emulsions with carbopol ultrez 20 copolymer was the most stable emulsions which composed of very small oil droplets (50% < 142.43 nm) with a narrow size distribution.     

Experimental Study and Numerical Modeling of Rheological and Flow Behavior of Xanthan Gum Solutions Using Artificial Neural Network

This study investigated effect of temperature, concentration, and shear rate on rheological properties of xanthan gum aqueous solutions using a Couette viscometer at temperatures between 25°C and 55°C and concentrations of 0.25 wt% to 1.0 wt%. The Herschel–Bulkley model described very well the non-Newtonian behavior of xanthan gum solutions. Shear rate, temperature, and concentration affected apparent viscosity and an equation was proposed for the temperature and concentration effect valid for each shear rate. This article also presents an artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict apparent viscosity. Based on statistical analysis, the ANN method estimated viscosity with high accuracy and low error.     

Exploration of an arabinogalactan isolated from Odina wodier Roxb.: Physicochemical,compositional characterisations and functional attributes

Exudate gum polysaccharides have a diverse range of functionalities in food, cosmetics, textiles, biomedical, pharmaceutical and other industries for centuries. The potentiality of gum odina as tablet binder, coacervates (chitosan‐gum odina complex) for colon‐targeted drug delivery system and also as prebiotic with immunomodulating properties was reported earlier. Since no detail study of the physicochemical, functional properties of the gum has been reported, the present investigation deals with physicochemical, compositional and functional characterisations of purified gum odina (PGO) for adopting in food and pharmaceutical industry. PGO, an arabinogalactan, was obtained by ethanol precipitation from exudates (gum odina) of tropical deciduous plant Odina wodier Roxb. Colour profiling of PGO including L* (87.74 ± 0.42), a* (1.73 ± 0.65) and b* (7.79 ± 0.58) was determined. Physicochemical parameters revealed good flow ability and compressibility desired for an excipient. Concentration‐dependent surface tension was measured by du Noüy ring method. Rheological study showed pseudoplastic behaviour of PGO dispersion. Sugar analysis by gas liquid chromatography indicated presence of arabinogalactan in PGO. Size exclusion chromatography of PGO revealed two high‐molecular‐weight components PGO‐I (95%, Arabinose:Galactose :: 1:1.6) and PGO‐II (5%, Arabinose:Galactose :: 1:4). Further characterisations of PGO by means of CHNS, FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray diffraction, conductivity, pH, zeta potential analysis and antioxidant activity indicated typical polysaccharide characteristics. Collectively, this work established the fundamental properties of PGO and the results presented here will facilitate the applications of PGO as sustainable food additive, pharmaceutical excipient for commercial adoption.     

Preparation of rapid (chain-stopped) alkyds by incorporation of gum rosin and investigation of coating properties

In this study, the synthesis, characterization, and properties of a short oil length chain–stopped(rapid) alkyd resin is investigated. Gum rosin modified alkyd resin (RA-GR) was prepared using soybean oil, phthalic anhydride, glycerin and gum rosin acid. An alkyd modified with benzoic acid (RA-BA) was also prepared for comparison. FTIR analyses and GPC measurements of the alkyds were used for characterization. Other properties such as the viscosity, acid value, and solid content of the final resins were determined. Separately, the synthesized resins were used in paint formulations without any changes in other parameters such as filler, airdrying agents, solvents, etc. Paints were applied to metal and glass surfaces and the effect of gum rosin was investigated by looking at touch and hard drying times, adhesion to metals and gloss changes. Compared to the benzoic acid modified resin (RA-BA), gum rosin modified resin (RA-GR) exhibited remarkable positive effects on the paint with a better adhesion to the metals, and short drying times without any loses in the glosses.     

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) Grafted Gellan Gum

Poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate) was grafted on gellan gum (GG) in aqueous medium under microwave irradiation using ammonium persulfate and N,N,N′N′-tetramethylethylenediamine as the initiation system. Grafted copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, TGA, and SEM techniques. The influence of microwave power, exposure time, and composition of the reaction mixture on extent of grafting was studied. Conditions for obtaining the highest degree of grafting were optimized. The rate of grafting was determined from weight measurements. The overall activation energy for grafting is found to be 31.2 kJ/mol, indicating the occurrence of the grafting process with absorption of low thermal energy.     

铅(Ⅱ)-碘化钾-丁基罗丹明B-阿拉伯胶-TritonX-100体系分光光度法测定痕量铅

本文研究结果表明,水溶性大分子化合物阿拉伯胶和非离子表面活性剂Triton X-100共同存在下,铅碘络阴离子和丁基罗丹明B的显色反应具有很高的灵敏度,表观摩尔吸光系数ε=6.2×10~5L.mol~(-1)·cm~(-1)。拟定了用本法测定金属及其合金、工业废水中痕量铅的分析步骤,测定结果较满意。     

Bioactivity and chemical characterisation of Lophostemon suaveolens – an endemic Australian Aboriginal traditional medicinal plant

Lophostemon suaveolens is a relatively unexplored endemic medicinal plant of Australia. Extracts of fresh leaves of L. suaveolens obtained from sequential extraction with n-hexane and dichloromethane exhibited antibacterial activity in the disc diffusion and MTT microdilution assays against Streptococcus pyogenes and methicillin sensitive and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (minimum bactericidal concentration < 63 μg/mL). The dichloromethane extract and chromatographic fractions therein inhibited nitric oxide in RAW264.7 murine macrophages (IC₅₀ 3.7–11.6 μg/mL) and also PGE₂ in 3T3 murine fibroblasts (IC₅₀ 2.8–19.7 μg/mL). The crude n-hexane, dichloromethane and water extracts of the leaves and chromatographic fractions from the dichloromethane extract also showed modest antioxidant activity in the ORAC assay. GC–MS analysis of the n-hexane fraction showed the presence of the antibacterial compounds aromadendrene, spathulenol, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene and α-pinene and the anti-inflammatory compounds β-caryophyllene and spathulenol. Fractionation of the dichloromethane extract led to the isolation of eucalyptin and the known anti-inflammatory compound betulinic acid.     

Synthesis,characterization and evaluation of semi‐IPN hydrogels consisted of poly(methacrylic acid) and guar gum for colon‐specific drug delivery

The semi‐IPN hydrogels consisting of poly(methacrylic acid) and guar gum (GG) are prepared at room temperature using water as solvent. 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) is entrapped in the hydrogel in the synthesis of hydrogel and all entrapment efficiencies are found above 85%. The hydrogel shows excellent pH‐sensitivity. It exhibited minimum swelling in an acidic pH medium through the formation of a complex hydrogen‐bonded structure and maximal swelling due to the electrostatic repulsion due to the ionization of the carboxylic groups in pH 7.4 medium. The degradation in vitro shows that the degree of degradation (R%) depended on the concentration of cross‐linking agent and content of GG. The hydrogel shows a minimum release of 5‐ASA due to the complex hydrogen bonded structure of the hydrogels in the medium of pH 2.2. The enzymatic degradation of hydrogels by cecal bacteria can accelerate the release of 5‐ASA entrapped in the hydrogel in pH 7.4 medium. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal properties and release of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lippia sidoides</Emphasis> essential oil from gum arabic/maltodextrin microparticles

Microencapsulation of Lippia sidoides essential oil was carried out by spray drying. Blends of maltodextrin and gum arabic were used as carrier. Spray dried microparticles were characterized using conventional (thermogravimetry, evolved gas analysis) and combined (thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry analysis) thermal analysis techniques in order to evaluate the abilities of carriers with different compositions in retaining and in releasing the core vs. dynamic heating. Thermal analysis was useful to evaluate the physico-chemical interactions between the core and carriers and to determine the protective effect of the carriers on the evaporation of essential oil.