Gum arabic

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Gum Arabic

Gum Arabic (pronunciation: /gʌm ˈærəbɪk/), also known as acacia gum, is a natural gum consisting of the hardened sap of various species of the acacia tree.

Etymology

The term "Gum Arabic" does not indicate a particular botanical source. In fact, in commerce, "Gum Arabic" can come from any of several species of Acacia. The term "Arabic" refers to the area from which the product was originally sourced, the Arabian Peninsula.

Description

Gum Arabic is a complex mixture of glycoproteins and polysacaccharides. It is the original source of the sugars Arabinose and Ribose, both of which were first discovered and isolated from it, and are named after it.

Uses

Gum Arabic is used primarily in the food industry as a stabilizer. It is edible and has E number E414. It is a key ingredient in traditional lithography and is used in printing, paint production, glue, cosmetics and various industrial applications, including viscosity control in inks and in textile industries.

Related Terms

  • Acacia Senegal: One of the primary trees from which Gum Arabic is harvested.
  • Acacia Seyal: Another tree species that produces a type of Gum Arabic.
  • E number: A system of identifying food additives, of which Gum Arabic is one (E414).
  • Polysaccharide: A type of carbohydrate, of which Gum Arabic is a complex mixture.
  • Glycoprotein: A molecule that consists of a carbohydrate plus a protein; Gum Arabic contains these.

See Also

External links

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