Karaya Gum - Uses, Benefits and Some Properties for Karaya Gum

« How To Tackle With Hypothyroidism in Adults - Go unconventional with conventional pearl jewelry! »

Karaya Gum - Uses, Benefits and Some Properties for Karaya Gum

29 February 2008

Written by: steve Posted under Health

Sterculiaceae

Common Trade Names

Powdered Gum Karaya

Common Forms

Karaya gum powder is used to form gels and pastes for bases in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals.

Source

Karaya gum is the dried exudate of Sterculia urens and other Sterculia species. Native to India and Pakistan, this softwood tree grows to a height of about 30′. All parts of the tree exude a soft gum when injured. The gum is obtained by defacing the trunk, allowing the gum to seep out and be collected, washed, and dried.

Chemical Components

Karaya gum is a high-molecular-weight complex polysaccharide composed of residues that contain galacturonic acid, beta-D-galactose, glucuronic acid, and L-rhamnose. Because the gum is partially acetylated, it may release acetic acid on degradation. Trimethylamine has also been identified in hydrolysis products.

Karaya gum contains 12% to 14% moisture and less than 1 % acidÂinsoluble ash. The quality of karaya gum depends on how carefully impurities have been removed. Food-grade gum is usually a white to pinkish gray powder with a slight vinegar odor, whereas pharmaceutical grades may be almost translucent.

Actions

Karaya gum is essentially inert and not associated with significant pharmacologic activity. It is not digested or absorbed systemically. After contact with water, coarse particles in the gum swell, forming a discontinuous type of mucilage that exerts a laxative effect in the bowel. Although preliminary studies suggest that other gums of this type may normalize blood glucose and plasma lipid levels, karaya has not been investigated in this regard.

Reported uses

Karaya gum is used primarily in the pharmaceutical industry as a bulk laxative and in the food industry as an emulsifier, a binder, and a stabilizer in such products as bread and doughnut mixes, cheese spreads, frozen desserts, meringue powders, and whipped cream .

The demulcent properties of karaya gum make it useful as an ingredient in lozenges to relieve sore throat. The bark has long been used as an astringent. A protective coating of karaya gum applied to dentures has been shown to reduce bacterial adhesion by 98%. Also, karaya gum is used as a denture adhesive in which the finely powdered gum is dusted onto the dental plate and swells when it touches the moist surface of the gums, providing a comfortable, tight fit for the plate. Karaya gum was also used in a clinical study of a new delivery system for administering salicylic acid in a skin patch to treat verruca vulgaris (warts). The patch achieved a cure rate of 69% compared with 35% for placebo controls. This treatment was considered safe, effective, and nonirritating .

Dosage

Dosage is expressed as a percentage of the karaya gum incorporated in to the final product.

Adverse Reactions

GI: abdominal pain, diarrhea, gastroesophageal or esophageal obstruction.

Interactions

None reported.

Contraindications And Precautions

Avoid using karaya gum in pregnant or breast-feeding patients; effects are unknown. Use cautiously and in modest amounts in patients who are prone to gastric outlet obstruction.

Special Considerations

Advise the patient with diabetes to watch for signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia because large quantities of karaya gum may lower blood glucose levels.

Instruct the patient to take other drugs at least 2 hours before or after ingesting karaya gum.

Advise women to avoid using karaya gum products during pregnancy or when breast-feeding.

Karaya gum is generally recognized as safe for internal consumption. Widespread experience with the product throughout the United States and Europe has not been associated with any significant adverse experiences.

Points of Interest

The use of karaya gum became widespread during the early 1900s, when it began to supplant tragacanth gum for many uses.

Commentary

Karaya gum has long been used as a bulk ingredient and emulsifying agent in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The gum appears to lack significant pharmacologic activity or toxicity. Clinical use as a bulk laxative appears safe and may be effective, but large, controlled clinical studies are unavailable.