Arabic gum
Gum arabic is a natural product that exudes from the trunk and branches of some species of the Acacia genus , belonging to the mimosoid legume family (in particular the Acacia Senegal – or Acacia varek – and the Acacia Seyal ). These arboreal plants, typical of sub-Saharan Africa, produce their highly prized gummy secretion following various types of stress , such as the alternation of rainy periods with others of drought, parasitic attacks and above all artificial incisions or accidental wounds of the trunk and branches. For the same reason, gum arabic secretion is more abundant in stunted and old plants.
The rubber , which is soft as soon as it is secreted but hardens quickly in the open air , can be collected, purified and marketed for various uses.
Appearance and features
It typically presents itself in the form of rounded irregular flakes, light or amber in color depending on the area of origin and the degree of purification. It is also available in the form of white or yellowish-white flakes, granules or powders, or as a spray-dried substance.
From a chemical point of view, gum arabic can be defined as a mixture of calcium , magnesium and potassium salts of arabic acid. The total hydrolysis of this particularly complex polysaccharide releases the constituent monosaccharides: L-arabinose, D-galactose, L-rhamnose and D-glucoronic acid.
The field of use of gum arabic is very vast, recognizing its main applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and paint industries.
Food additive
Depending on the food product to which it is added, gum arabic helps prevent the crystallization of sugars, emulsifies fats favoring their homogeneous distribution in the product, stabilizes the foam, improves spreadability and maintains aromas, humidity, flavors and color uniformity, extending the life of the product; it also reduces calories (its energetic power is 50% lower than starch ) , and like all gums it has a good satiating power .
Gum arabic does not cause problems for celiac sufferers , as it is gluten- free .
On the label of food products, the presence of gum arabic can also be indicated by the abbreviation E414.
