Natural Gum Research Articles

Investigation of Corrosion Inhibition of Carbon Steel by Using Natural Iraqi Plum Tree Gum in a Saline Medium

In response to the growing interest in green chemistry and the adoption of environmentally friendly and cost-effective compounds in industrial and agricultural applications, this study focuses on exploring the potential of natural compounds. Specifically, the research investigates the corrosion inhibitory properties of Iraqi plum tree gum. The natural gum is characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to identify its functional groups and atomic force microscopy (AFM) for further analysis. The electrochemical polarization technique was used to study corrosion measurements for carbon steel (C.S) in saline solution and in the presence of the inhibitor (Plum Tree Gum) in different concentration solutions. The findings revealed a positive correlation between the concentration of plum tree gum and the efficiency of the inhibitor, indicating that higher concentrations of the gum result in increased inhibitory effectiveness.

Formulation And Evaluation Of Natural Gum Based Medicated Chewing Gum For Motion Sickness

Formulation And Evaluation Of Natural Gum Based Medicated Chewing Gum For Motion Sickness

ENHANCED SELECTIVITY OF OXYGEN DELIGNIFICATION BY CHERRY AND GUAR GUM ADDITIVES

Natural polysaccharide-based gums produced by plants in response to biotic or abiotic factors are used in various industries due to their biodegradability, renewability, biocompatibility, and non-toxic properties. This study examined the use of these gums in a new application, such as adding them to the delignification liquor to decrease the negative effects of radicals formed during the oxygen delignification of stone pine kraft pulps. For this purpose, the effects of sweet cherry gum, both with and without hydrogen peroxide reinforcement, and guar gum on oxygen delignification were examined in this study. The addition of both gums, up to a certain usage level, increased the selectivity of the reaction and protected the viscosity from oxidative damage, while causing only a limited reduction in the kappa number during the delignification process. However, it was determined that cherry gum, in hydrogen peroxide-reinforced oxygen delignification, showed no effect on selectivity, but increased pulp strength properties and better bleached pulp could be produced.

Biochemical Studies on Efficiency of Natural Gum in Chronic Kidney Failure and Liver Cirrhosis in Rats

It is well-established that apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation are associated with several disorders, including chronic renal disease and hepatic disease. Oxidative stress (OS) is a major cause of death from end-stage renal disease which also contributes to atherosclerosis and cardiac issues. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of Gum Arabic (GA) in mitigating renal damage and hepatotoxicity in rats induced by Chloropyrifos-methyl (CPM). A total of 42 male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups, with four groups (group 2 [IC], group 5 [GA1+IC]a, group 6 [GA2+IC], and group 7 [GA1+IC]b treated with CPM for eight weeks to induce hepatic and renal damage. Two models of GA administration, including the standard oral model in drinking water (15% w/v) and the oral model by gavage at a dose of 1 g/kg body weight were administered. Physiological parameters of kidney and liver functions, including urea, creatinine, AST, and ALT along with anti-oxidant factors (Melaodialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, and catalase) were measured in plasma, and homogenates of renal and hepatic tissues on day 57 of the experiment. In addition, histopathological examination was conducted on liver and kidney tissues using hematoxylin and eosin stain to evaluate the efficacy of GA on damaged tissues. Gum Arabic was found to significantly reduce CPM toxic effects in the liver and kidney in groups treated with CPM as liver and kidney parameters were reduced to normal levels. Furthermore, GA reduced histological indicators of inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis, as well as renal morphological damage. Additionally, it reduced OS in liver and kidney homogenates. In conclusion, GA effectively reduced the damage that CPM inflicted on liver and kidney tissue by stabilizing physiological parameters to normal levels and repairing cellular structures damaged by OS. Keywords: Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Gum Arabic, Kidney, Liver, Oxidative stress

Tannin removal from Persian gum and investigation of physicochemical properties: Comparing different methods

Persian gum (PG) is a novel natural exudate gum and the main challenge regarding PG is tannin content of gum which limits its application in food and pharmaceutical industries. In fact, tannins are known as anti-nutrient compounds because they limit bioavailability of proteins and minerals. Hence, in this study, the effect of microwave radiation (180, 450, 600 W for 5 min), autoclaving (121 °C for 20 min), boiling (5, 10 and 15 min) and soaking either in water or saline solutions (mono- and divalent salts) was evaluated to remove tannins from Persian gum. Moreover, the effect of tannin removal on the physicochemical properties was investigated by evaluation of rheological properties (flow behavior and viscoelastic tests), zeta potential and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data. Our outcomes demonstrated that the highest tannin removal efficiency found to be 75.67 ± 0.25, 74.32 ± 0.54 and 67.08 ± 0.19 % which belonged to soaking in water (180 min), soaking in CaCl2 solution (1% w/v, 90 min) and boiling (15 min) treatments of brownish PG granules, respectively (p < 0.05). Interestingly, removal of tannin increased apparent viscosity of PG dispersion. Based on oscillatory tests, boiling treatment caused exhibition of solid-like behavior, in contrast to control sample. Tannin removal reduced zeta potential and the lowest reduction belonged to the gums soaked in water (from -32.3 to -28.7 mV); however, formation of ion-bridging in the presence of CaCl2 caused a remarkable decrease. FTIR analysis declared that in the boiled sample, a decrease was detected in vibration intensity within the range of 3200–3500 cm−1 (-OH groups) which can be due to heat degradation. Findings of the present research confirmed that soaking in water is a low-cost and practical method for tannin removal of PG, which almost had no negative effect on physiochemical properties of gum.

High-Branched Natural Polysaccharide Flaxseed Gum Binder for Silicon-Based Lithium-Ion Batteries with High Capacity.

Silicon-based anodes heavily depend on the binder to preserve the unbroken electrode structure. In the present work, natural flaxseed gum (FG) is used as a binder of silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) anode for the first time. Owing to a large number of polar groups and a rich branched structure, this material not only anchors tightly to the surface of SiNPs through bonding interactions but also formed a hydrogen bonding network structure among molecules. As a result, the FG binder can endow the silicon electrode with stable interfacial adhesion and outstanding mechanical properties. In addition, FG with a high viscosity facilitates the homogeneous dispersion of the electrode components. When FG is used as a binder, the cycling performance of the Si anode is greatly improved. After one hundred cycles at an applied current density of 1 A g-1, the electrode continues to display remarkable electrochemical properties with a significant cyclic capacity (2213mAh g-1) and initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 89.7%.

Thermal, chemical and mechanical characterization of Azadirachta indica tree gum

This study focuses on the comprehensive thermal, chemical, and mechanical characterization of neem gum, a natural, colorless, tasteless polysaccharide obtained from Azadirachta indica tree’s trunk. The collection process of gum involves manual extraction from crude neem tree exudates, followed by thorough cleaning and homogenization with water. A portion of the resulting gum is then filtered, allowed to thicken, and naturally dried for subsequent mechanical testing. Various analytical techniques, such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the thermal properties, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) to find the functional groups, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and micro-X-ray fluorescence analysis (µ-XRF) to decide the elemental composition, microhardness, tensile, flexural, and compression tests to determine the mechanical properties, are employed in this study. The thermal and mechanical properties of neem gum have been relatively unexplored, and this highlights the novelty and importance of this research. The results are analyzed and compared with other natural tree gums. The pH of 5.07 shows that the gum is slightly acidic in nature, and the peaks obtained from thermal analysis demonstrate that it doesn’t have a melting point. The microhardness value, tensile strength, flexural strength, and compressive strength of neem gum are 238.64 MPa, 1.0155 MPa, 1.899 MPa, and 1.1023 MPa, respectively. This research provides valuable insights into the diverse characteristics and potential applications of neem gum in various fields. It is being used in the pharmaceutical industry. It can also be used as a cap for cutting tools, such as drill bits, after manufacturing, during transportation to protect their sharp edges from damage.

Efficient oil spill cleanup from water: Investigating the effectiveness of a sustainable anti-swelling hydrogel for rapid water repellency and oil absorption

Considering the significant harm caused to aquatic ecosystems and marine life by oil spills and the discharge of oily wastewater, there is a pressing need to address this issue to protect our environment and prevent the wastage of valuable resources. We introduced a two-step approach to create an anti-swelling, water-repellent sorbent using a green polysaccharide called gum gellan, functionalized with Octadecyl trichlorosilane (OTS) through dip coating method. Natural gums like gellan have high absorption capability due to their large surface area. However, they are hydrophilic, which means they can only absorb water. This property makes them unsuitable for oil spill applications. To make gum gellan suitable for oil spill applications, we have modified it in this study. We have introduced a material called octadecyltrichlorosilane, which has low surface energy and hierarchical roughness. This modification changes the wettability of gellan from hydrophilic to hydrophobic/oleophilic, allowing it to absorb oil and repel water. The sorbent is analyzed using several techniques, such as FTIR, XRD, TGA, FE-SEM, BET, Raman, EDX, and H1-NMR. The hydrophobic sorbent obtained demonstrates low density, high surface area, and high porosity. These characteristics give it excellent floatability and immediate and exceptional selectivity for absorbing oil from water. Additionally, it does not absorb any detectable amount of water. The sorbent exhibited a water contact angle (WCA) of 140 ± 3 ° and an oil contact angle (OCA) of 0° for various oils and organic solvents. It has rapid oil absorption capacity of 3.72 g/g for diesel, and can be easily recovered after use. The BET analysis revealed that after the modification with OTS, the sorbent's total surface area increased from 0.579 m2/g to 4.713 m2/g. This indicates that the OTS modification greatly enhances the surface area and pore volume of the, thus improving its ability to absorb oil. This sorbent efficiently separates oil-in-water emulsions, both surfactant-stabilized and surfactant-free, achieving over 90% separation through gravity alone. Moreover, the sorbent can sustain its wettability even under harsh environmental conditions, including exposure to acids, alkalis, and salts. The absorption data predominantly aligned with the pseudo-2nd-order model. Thus, this sorbent provides a cost-effective alternative for efficiently absorbing and separating oil-water emulsions in households and industries.

Synthesis and Characterization of Janus fenugreek Seed Gum-based Film for Food Packaging and Wound Dressing Applications

The use of plant-derived natural gum polysaccharides in food packaging and biomedicine is growing due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, film-forming ability, abundant functional groups, and potential for chemical or physical modification to develop novel materials. In this study, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed gum (FSG)-based Janus films with glycerol (GLY) as a plasticizer in varying concentrations (2%, 5%, 7%, and 10% w/w) were synthesized for potential food packaging and biomedical applications. The glycerol concentration significantly affected the stability, microstructure, moisture content, and solubility of the film, with 5% GLY yielding the most stable films. The water solubility was gradually increased with increasing the GLY content in the film sample. The film exhibited strong radical scavenging activity against DPPH assays, with an IC50 value of 158.73±0.013 µg/mL. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the film were found to be 88.21±0.012 mg/g in gallic acid equivalents (GAE) and 9.36±0.018 mg/g in quercetin equivalents (QE), respectively. The pristine FSG film exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and the fungal strain Candida albicans, which was significantly enhanced by incorporating the antibacterial drug penicillin. Additionally, we examined the impact of different films on chicken meat and cheese by monitoring changes in weight loss, color, pH, total aerobic mesophilic counts (TAMC), and psychrotrophic bacterial counts (PBC) during storage. Our results demonstrated that the samples packaged with pristine FSG film exhibited significantly lower TAMC and PBC values and slowed down the increase in pH values compared to the control samples, which further decreased by incorporating antimicrobial drug. These findings indicated that the Janus pristine FSG film is suitable for food packaging. Further, antimicrobial drugs incorporated into FSG film could be potential candidates for wound dressing applications.

Extraction of basil seed gum: Optimization and functional properties

Basil seed gum (BSG), a natural vegetable gum, was extracted by ethanol precipitation method using basil seeds as raw material. Based on the single factor experiments, Box-Behnken response surface test was performed to optimize the extraction conditions, and the physicochemical and functional properties of the extracted basil seed gum, as well as its microstructure, were analyzed in detail. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions of basil seed gum were as follows: liquid-to-feed ratio of 62:1, temperature of 50 °C, extraction time of 29.50 min, and pH = 8.1, with yield of 11.28 %. BSG was mainly composed of total sugars (93.09 %), uronic acid (18.83 %), proteins (2.77 %), and ash (4.35 %), and its monosaccharides included D-(+)-anhydrous glucose (58.26 %), D-galactose (21.40 %), D-mannose (11.96 %), D-(+)-galacturonic acid (7.82 %), D-arabinose (0.28 %), D-(+)-xylose (0.28 %), and L-rhamnose (0.002 %). Comparative analysis of the functional properties of basil seed gum and three commercial vegetable gums (linseed gum, caraway seed gum, guar gum) showed that basil seed gum had excellent water retention properties, and its water absorption and water holding properties were much better than those of three commercial gums. Rheological characterization showed that BSG was a pseudoplastic fluid with high zero-shear viscosity. In addition, the basil seed gum powder showed an irregular flaky fibrous structure under microscope and was a semi-crystalline polymer. In view of the high aqueous absorption and retention properties of basil seed gum, it has promising applications in food, cosmetic and medical devices.

Fabrication of bacterial derived natural polysaccharide-based copolymer network hydrogels for use in drug delivery applications

Researchers are currently exploring polysaccharide gums extensively to develop materials for biomedical applications. Herein, the bacterial-derived natural polysaccharide xanthan gum (XG) was utilized to develop copolymer network hydrogels to use in drug delivery (DD) applications for sustainable development. These copolymers were synthesized by grafting METAC onto XG and characterized by FE-SEM, EDX, AFM, FTIR, XRD, 13C NMR, DSC, and TGA-DTG techniques. These hydrogels were encapsulated with the anticancer drug dacarbazine. The diffusion of dacarbazine from the hydrogels exhibited a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism, and the release profile was most appropriately explained by a zero-order kinetic model. In addition, network hydrogels illustrated their superabsorbent nature by absorbing about 15 g of fluid per gram of polymer sample. The materials revealed antioxidant activity in the DPPH scavenging method. Findings of the physicochemical, drug delivery, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of copolymers revealed their suitability for use in DD applications.

Visible light-responsive vitamin B2 functionalized ZnO with dual-mechanism bactericidal effects for perishable agrofood preservation

Recent advances in functionalized micro-nanostructures have enlightened promising non-thermal-dependent antibacterial strategies with broad applications in preventing agrofood spoilage, clinical infections, and environmental pollution caused by pathogens. These advances highlight the need for precise design of efficient and multi-mode bactericides. Herein, photosensitive vitamin B2 (VB2) was exploited to functionalize semiconductors with limited visible-light response and intrinsic antibacterial activity, while ZnO served as a paradigm for the fabrication of VB2-functionalized zinc oxide (VB2-ZnO) with persistent antibacterial effects. The enhanced visible photocatalytic activity and the released Zn2+ in VB2-ZnO contribute to potent antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects by disrupting bacterial structures and inducing oxidative stress. Furthermore, the successful fabrication of composite films incorporating VB2-ZnO and natural locust bean gum (LBG) exhibited improved physicochemical properties and persistent antibacterial effects, resulting in the shelf-life extension of perishable berries. This work pioneers a novel approach to functionalizing semiconductor photocatalysts with VB2 photosensitizer, offering novel solutions for ensuring agrofood safety through multi-mechanism antibacterial materials.

Effect of neroli-flavored chewing gum on anxiety

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of neroli-flavored chewing gum in reducing anxiety. A single-blind, two-group study was conducted on 72 university students. Participants were randomly assigned to either the commercial neroli-flavored chewing gum (CNC) group or the natural hydro-distilled neroli-flavored chewing gum (NNC) group. The research instrument used was Spielberger's State-Anxiety questionnaire. While there was no significant difference in anxiety scores between the CNC and NNC groups before the intervention, a significant difference was observed in anxiety scores 20 min after the intervention. Within-group comparisons indicated statistically significant differences between pre-test and post-test values of anxiety in the NNC group. The results of this study suggest that natural hydro-distilled neroli-flavored chewing gum can reduce anxiety in university students.

GASTRORETENTIVE EFFERVESCENT FLOATING TABLETS (GREFT) OF DRUGS ACTING ON CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Incidences of Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVDs) are increasing in an alarming proportion in India. Conventional oral dosage forms cannot be retained in the stomach for long owing to gastric emptying. Moreover, drugs which are commonly employed in management of chronic CVDs either have reduced solubility at alkaline pH, undergo colonic degradation, exhibit site-specific absorption or varying bioavailability with combination therapy. Gastro-retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) are designed to overcome these challenges. Since 2006, Food and Drug Administration has approved only few GRDDS for treating CVDs. The aim of the present review is to summarize the outcomes of research carried on GRRDS with drugs for CVDs since last 15 y and comprehensive analysis of limitations of such studies due to which no product has been approved or commercialized in over last 18 y. Literature survey includes single unit, multi-particulate, monolayer and bilayer dosage forms with or without effervescence-inducing agents and made of natural and/or synthetic polymers like hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, natural gums etc. Efforts have been made to compile in vitro buoyancy data such as floating lag time, total floating time, swelling index, release profile and release kinetics. Among various studies reported on monolayer and bilayer Gastro-Retentive Effervescent Floating Tablets, only 3 involved bioavailability studies in human volunteers. Toxicity studies in animals or stability studies are totally lacking. Observation with floating-type multi-particulate GRDDS is more disappointing. lack of safety, efficacy data, stability data, in vivo imaging studies and in vitro-in vivo correlation data might be actually responsible for lack of commercialization of any GRDDS for drugs acting on CVDs in 21st century.

Synthesis and characterization of Xanthan Gum Xanthates and their application for toxic metal ion removal from synthetic wastewater

This study focuses on the synthesis of three grades of xanthates of natural polymeric material Xanthan gum (XG) by reacting it with Carbon disulfide (CS2) in basic medium at room temperature under inert atmosphere. The confirmation of the formation of Xanthan Gum Xanthates (XGX) has been done with the help of Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, point of zero-charge (PZC), Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) studies. DSC and XRD studies have been done to confirm the crystalline nature of the xanthates. The removal of Cu2+and Co2+ from the prepared grades was found to be 86.7%, 89.9% and 93.6% for Cu2+ and 86.1%, 88.8% and 93.1% for Co2+ respectively. Therefore, these xanthates can be employed for the eradication of such toxic metal ions from their synthetic solutions. The adsorption capacities of three grades of xanthates viz. XGX1, XGX2, and XGX3 were found to be 319.48, 303.03, and 325.73 mg/g for Cu(II) and 238.66, 246.91, and 230.41 mg/g and for Co(II) respectively, which are better than the adsorption capacities reported for various other adsorbents in literature.

Study on Natural Gums and Resins as Release Retarding Agents in Development of Sustained Release Matrix Tablets of Didanosine

Didanosine is an anti-retroviral drug which helpful in preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplication in the body. This drug has a relatively short half-life and low absolute bioavailability and requires frequent dosing. So to avoid this frequent dosing and to improve the patient’s compliance, the development of sustained-release tablets is necessary. Natural gums and resins play an important role in retarding drug release. Didanosine extended-release matrix formulations developed with wet granulation using gum kondagogu, guar gum, gum olibanum, and olibanum resin, and evaluated for pre and post-compression parameters. The outcome of all evaluation tests is reached IP specifications. Formulations with kondagogu F1-F3 failed to extend the drug release. F4-F6 was formulated with gum kondagogu and guar gum, in which F4 prolonged the release up to 12 hours with 98.23%. The formulations F7 with olibanum resin release 96.13%, and F10 with gum olibanum releases 93.15% drug at the end of 12 hours. The conclusion from the study was that natural polymers could be used to enhance drug release for an extended period.

Influences of non-rubber components on the molecular network and viscoelasticity of natural rubber gum

The molecular network of natural rubber (NR) gum is determined by the interparticle diffusion when NR latex coagulates. However, the roles played by the non-rubber components (NRC) species on the heterogeneous network structure and on the viscoelasticity of NR gum have not been throughly investigated. Here, the molecular relaxation was studied by linear rheology. In addition, the inter- and intra-cycle nonlinearities under large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) were studied for gums with extracted and added NRC. It was found that the high molecular weight free protein restricts the interdiffusion and improves the entanglement density, while the added lipid induces homogeneous distribution of NRC. The physical associations coming from free proteins increase the segment friction and retard the terminal relaxation. Onset of the strain softening was found to be induced by entangled network density. Both the elastic and viscous LAOS nonlinearities can be regulated by adjusting the NRC species. This work sheds light on the contributions of major NRC species on the network structure and nonlinear viscoelasticity of NR gum.

Thermal – chemical - mechanical characterization of Anacardium occidentale tree gum

Anacardium occidentale (cashew) tree gum is being used in several sectors, including the pharmaceutical sector. This gum has been explored more in the medical field by many previous researchers, but there is a big research gap regarding its thermal and mechanical properties. Therefore, this research is intended to reveal the thermal, chemical, and mechanical characteristics of Anacardium occidentale tree gum. The results obtained in this regard are then compared with certain properties of artificial resins. Thermal analysis is carried out using a thermogravimetric analyzer, and differential scanning calorimeter, elemental analysis is carried out using a scanning electron microscope and a micro-X-ray fluorescence analyzer; and mechanical tests are carried out using a nano-indentation tester and a universal testing machine. The pH of 4.76 shows that the gum is acidic in nature, and the peaks obtained from thermal analysis demonstrate that it doesn't have a melting point. The microhardness value, tensile strength, flexural strength, and compressive strength of cashew gum are 218.39 MPa, 1.667 MPa, 3.64 MPa, and 2.667 MPa, respectively. The obtained results show that, Anacardium occidentale tree gum has comparable thermal properties to those of artificial resins and other natural gums.

Formulation and evaluation of floating tablet of esomeprazole by using natural gums

Formulation and evaluation of floating tablet of esomeprazole by using natural gums

Biological investigation of a novel nanocomposite based on xanthan gum-alginate hydrogel/PVA, incorporated with ZnMnFe2O4 nanoparticles

In light of the need to create new materials that are safe for use in biomedical applications like wound healing and tissue engineering, a unique nanocomposite was formulated and produced in the current investigation. A biocompatible hydrogel was created using natural polymers xanthan gum (XG) and alginate (Alg). In order to enhance the mechanical characteristics of the natural polymer-based hydrogels, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was added to the hydrogel matrix. Subsequently, the XG-Alg hydrogel/PVA structure was combined with ZnMnFe2O4 nanoparticles in order to augment the antibacterial efficacy of the biomaterial. The XG-Alg hydrogel/PVA/ZnMnFe2O4 nanocomposite was analyzed using XRD, EDX, FT-IR, TGA, and FE-SEM techniques to determine its properties. In addition, the mechanical properties of the pure hydrogel were compared to those of the XG-Alg hydrogel/PVA/ZnMnFe2O4 nanocomposite. The nanocomposite exhibited a biocompatibility of 96.45 % and 94.32 % with HEK293T cell lines after 24 h and 48 h of incubation, respectively, in biological evaluations. Furthermore, a significant antibacterial efficacy was demonstrated against both gram-positive S. aureus and gram-negative E. coli bacteria. The findings suggest that the developed XG-Alg hydrogel/PVA/ZnMnFe2O4 nanocomposite has promising qualities for use in biomedical fields, such as tissue engineering.