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.