Comparative Analysis of The Phytochemical Profiles of Selected Edible Gums

Natural exudates from plant and shrub stems or bark are known as wild edible gums. These gums are water-soluble or swell polysaccharides that have numerous nutritional, and medicinal, and, Industrial uses. Edible gums from the wild are necessary for human diet and have therapeutic uses. They are taken from a range of plant species, such as Acacia, Sterculia, and Boswellia are generally found in arid and semi-arid regions. The food industry makes extensive use of gums and their derivatives. They are less expensive and frequently available. Chemically inert, odourless, Harmless, and biocompatible. Because they dissolve in water, these gums are also known as hydrocolloids (Saha, A., et al., 2017).  Often referred to as “Babul,” Acacia nilotica is a group of trees and shrubs that are members of the Fabaceae family (Nadkarni K. M. 2005). India is home to a large number of this pantropical and subtropical genus.  It is essential in agro-pattoral and traditional system and occurs naturally (Shittu G. A. 2010). A. nilotica is used in traditional pharmacopoeia for animals and humans, as well as agriculture, pastoral, industrial, and food production (Pirsa, S., et al., 2023; Yemenicioglu, A., et al., 2020). Furthermore, the fruits of A. nilotica are sold in the Central market. It was noted that A. nilotica bark is one of the most abundant natural antioxidants. Plant gum can be eaten raw and fried (Perumal, P. K., et al., 2023). A. nilotica have medicinal properties like astringent and styptic; used to treat sore throats, asthma, diabetes, bleeding piles, burns, leucorrhoea, urine and vaginal discharges, and halt bleeding (Chatterjee, A. 1991; Kumar, S., & Chauhan, A. K. S. 2005).  Acacia catechu is prickly deciduous tree that can reach to 15 metres (50 feet) tall. In Linnaean scientific classification, the plant is known as khair in Hindi. Senegalia catechu can be found across south and Southeast Asia, including India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia. Senegalia catechu (Roxb.) (Family-leguminosae), a multipurpose business vegetable tree, is native to the Indian Peninsula, particularly Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu, where it thrives on Bone-dry, rough soils. This tree is also used to manufacture pulp wood, timber, feed, and gum, and it offers a variety of therapeutic benefits. There active compounds, such as catechin or epicatechin, perform significant functions as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent (Kumari, M., et al., 2022). The plant’s gum is fried in ghee, combined with light-baked wheat flour and dry fruits, and used to make “Ladoos.” These are particularly given to postpartum mothers to relieve joint problems, and the gum is thought to relax the tightness in the abdominal muscles. Acacia catechu have medicinal properties like astringent and styptic; Tonic, emollient, and demulcent (Chopra, R. N., et al., 1956). Anogeissus latifolia (Dhawda gum) belongs to the Combretaceae family and is mostly produced in the Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. It has a glassy fracture and produce spherical tears that are typically smaller than 1 cm in diameter. It frequently appears in bigger vermiform clumps. Many industries use dhawda gum (Anogeissus latifolia). It is used to make powdered, stable, oil-soluble vitamins. It is used as a binder in long-fibered, light-weight papers; it is used as an immersive fear of petroleum and non-petroleum to form liquid wax paste emulsions (Yogi RK, et al., 2017). Fried gum was eaten. Specially given to women after delivery to alleviate joint pain. Anogeissus latifolia have medicinal properties like, Astringent, postnatal tonic, and rheumatism (Chatterjee, A., & Pakrashi, S. C. 1991; Jain, S. K. 1991).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

(1) Collection of Gum samples:

Fresh Gums samples were collected in a month of 2^nd February 2025, from Kalupur local market in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Gum of Anogeissus latifolia

(2) Preparation of samples:

The plant material (gum) of Acacia nilotica, Acacia catechu, and Anogeissus latifolia crushed to fine powder in grinder and stored in air tight bottles.

(3) Preparation of Gum Extract:

About 10 gm Gum powder was taken and kept in 100 ml solvent (aqueous) and then put it in Shaker for 24 hours. The solution was then filtered using whatmann filter paper no. 42 and kept in a room temperature of the evaporation of respective solvent. The dried extracts were then weighed for obtaining the extractive values of each gum samples. The yield value of each extract was calculated by using the formula.

Yield Extractive Value:

Yield of extracts =        Weight of extract from plant sample (W) Weight of dried plant sample×100

(4) Qualitative tests for phytochemical screening:

The phytochemical screening was carried out for all samples as per the standard method.

Test of Steroids: (Melad, F. M., et al., 2023; Khandelwal, K. 2008)

Salkowaski Reaction:

Few milligrams of gum was taken in the taste tube. 2 ml of chloroform and 2 ml of conc. sulphuric acid was added from the side of the taste tube. The taste tube was shaken for a few minutes. The development of red colour in the chloroform layer indicated the presence of sterols.

Tests for Flavonoids:

Shinoda Test:

Few milligrams of gum was taken in the taste tube and dissolved in 5 ml ethanol (95% v/v) and reacted with few drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 0.5 g of magnesium metal. The pink, crimson or magenta colour is developed within a minute or two if Flavonoids are present.

Alkaline Reagent Test:

Extracts were treated with a few drops of sodium hydroxide solution. Formation of intense yellow colour, which becomes colourless on the addition of dilute acid, indicates the presence of flavonoids.

Lead Acetate test:

Extracts were treated with a few drops of lead acetate solution. Formation of yellow colour precipitate indicates the presence of flavonoids.

Tests for Amino Acids:

Ninhydrin Test:

To the extract, 0.25% w/v ninhydrin reagent was added and boiled for a few minutes. Formation of a blue colour indicates the presence of amino acid.

Xanthoproteic Test:

The extracts were treated with a few drops of concentrated Nitric acid. Formation of yellow colour indicates the presence of proteins.

Test for sugars:

Fehling’s Solution Test:

Fehling solution A and Fehling solution B Both were mixed in equal volumes immediately before use. A little of the test residue was dissolved in water, and a few ml of the Fehling’s solution was added to it. This mixture was then warmed. If a red precipitate of cuprous oxide is obtained, reducing sugars are present.

Test for Glycosides:

Legal’s Test:

Extracts were treated with sodium nitroprusside in pyridine and sodium hydroxide. Formation of pink to blood red colour indicates the presence of cardiac glycosides.

Tests for Alkaloids:

Wagner’s Test:

 Few ml extract are added in the test tube and treated with a 4-5 drops of Wagner’s reagent (along the sides of test tube), Formation of brown/reddish colour Precipitate indicates the presence of alkaloids (Wagner, H. 1993; Banu, K. S., et al., 2015).

 Mayer’s Test:

 Few ml extract are added in the test tube and treated with a two drops of Mayer’s reagent (along the sides of taste tube), formation of creamy white colour precipitate indicates the presence of alkaloids (Evans, W. C. 2009).

Dragendroff’s Test:

 Few ml extract are added in the taste tube and treated with few drops of Dragendroff’s reagent (along the sides of taste tube), formation of reddish/brown precipitate indicates the presence of alkaloids (De Silva, G. O., et al., 2017; Kumar, M. K., et al., 2011).  

Tests for Tannins:

Ferric Chloride Reagent Test:

1 ml extract are added in the test tube and treated with 2 ml 5% ferric chloride reagent, Formation of dark green/bluish black colour indicates the presence of tannins (Audu, S. A. et al., 2007).

Lead Acetate Test:

1 ml Extract are added in the test tube and treated with 3 ml 10% lead acetate solution, Formation of White precipitate indicates the presence of tannins (Shaikh, J. R., et al., 2020).

(5) Quantitative screening (Total flavonoid content):

150 µl of the extracts of different variety of (gum aqueous extracts) was mixed with 1500 µl of 95% of methanol, and then 100 µl of aluminium chloride (10%) and potassium acetate (1M) was added respectively and make volume up to 10 ml with distilled water and agitated. Incubation was done for 20-30 minutes at room temperature. The absorbance was assessed at 415nm against a blank having all the reagents without the sample using spectrophotometer. Measurement was done in duplicates and the total flavonoid quantified by the standard curve of quercetin solution (12.5, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 150 µg/ml, R2=0.9963) (Quettier-Deleu, C., et al., 2000).

(6) Measurement of antioxidant activity:

    DPPH radical scavenging activity:

The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) reagent is used in the DPPH technique, which was developed by Marsden Blois in 1958 to measure a substance’s capacity to scavenge free radicles. Firstly, take Gum extract having different concentration followed by adding 3ml DPPH solution. After that make final volume up to 1ml with solvent i.e. methanol and acetone. Incubate it for 30 minute under dark condition. Using UV spectrophotometer, the absorbance at 517nm was determined. For Ascorbic acid similar procedure was followed for the standard series with concentration 1mg/1ml (Blois, M. S. 1958).

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

1. Yield Extractive Value:

Table 1: Yield extractive value of selected Gum varieties.

Graph: 1 Yield extractive value of selected Gum species.

Figure 1 shows, Anogeissus latifolia exhibits a notably lower yield (less than 50%), whereas Acacia nilotica and Acacia catechu both exhibit comparably high extractive yields (around 70%). Practically speaking, this implies that when processed with water, the two Acacia species Yield a comparatively higher amount of gum extract than Anogeissus latifolia. 

2. Qualitative Analysis:                

Table 2: Preliminary phytochemical screening of gums:

Table 2: Qualitative screening of Gum species (Aqueous extract) (where + = present and - = absent)

Phytochemical screening reveals that all three kinds contain Alkaloids, with Acacia catechu and Anogeissus latifolia having a higher concentration, although tannins are only visible in Anogeissus latifolia using the lead acetate test. Flavonoids are consistently present in all samples, as demonstrated by the alkaline reagent taste, although only Acacia catechu interacts with lead acetate. Acacia nilotica and Acacia catechu also contain Steroids (Salkowski reaction positive), but no Glycosides, Amino acids, or Sugars are present in any of the types.

3. Quantitative Screening (Total Flavonoid Content):

Table 3: Quantitative screening of Gum species (Aqueous extract) Mean O. D. of TFC.

The Table data is supported by the table, which shows that the total flavonoid content (TFC) of the three plant extracts various significantly. Acacia catechu has a significantly low TFC of 27.33±

Graph: 2 Total Flavonoid Contain in Different Gum Extracts.

The bar chart Shows a large variance in total flavonoid concentration among the three aqueous extracts Anogeissus latifolia leads with over 180 mg QE/g, followed by Acacia nilotica with around 170 mg QE/g, and Acacia catechu lags Significantly with approximately 30 mg QE/g. This stark contrast suggests that extracts from Anogeissus latifolia and Acacia nilotica may have superior antioxidant properties or other health benefits when compared to Acacia catechu, emphasizing the importance of selecting the appropriate extract based on flavonoid concentration.

4. Antioxidant Axtivity:

       DPPH Radical scavenging activity:

Table 4: Mean O. D. of Different Gum species (Aqueous extract).

Graph: 3 DPPH scavenging activity of selectes Gums in Aqueous extract.

This graph depicts the DPPH Radicals scavenging activity (inhibition percentage) of three distinct gum extracts- Anogeissus latifolia, Acacia nilotica and Acacia catechu at varying concentrations. Higher doses of the extract, up to 100 µg/ml, show an increase in inhibition, indicating improved free radical scavenging. At 100 µg/ml, Anogeissus latifolia and Acacia catechu had the highest inhibition value (about 57%), while Acacia nilotica also exhibits strong but slightly lower inhibition. Interestingly, at the highest tested concentration (1000 µg/ml), the inhibition values for all three extracts decline significantly. This suggests excessive concentration may interfere with the assay or that there is an ideal concentration range for antioxidant activity.

Table 5: IC₅₀ Value of selected three Gums variety. (Aqueous Extract)

Graph: IC₅₀ Values of antioxidant activity (DPPH) of selected Gums varieties.