Showing papers on "Guar gum published in 2007"

Concentrated oat β-glucan, a fermentable fiber, lowers serum cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic adults in a randomized controlled trial

Abstract: Soluble fibers lower serum lipids, but are difficult to incorporate into products acceptable to consumers. We investigated the physiological effects of a concentrated oat β-glucan on cardiovascular disease (CVD) endpoints in human subjects. We also compared the fermentability of concentrated oat β-glucan with inulin and guar gum in a model intestinal fermentation system. Seventy-five hypercholesterolemic men and women were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: 6 grams/day concentrated oat β-glucan or 6 grams/day dextrose (control). Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline, week 3, and week 6 and analyzed for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, homocysteine and C-reactive protein (CRP). To estimate colonic fermentability, 0.5 g concentrated oat β-glucan was incubated in a batch model intestinal fermentation system, using human fecal inoculum to provide representative microflora. Fecal donors were not involved with the β-glucan feeding trial. Inulin and guar gum were also incubated in separate serum bottles for comparison. Oat β-glucan produced significant reduction from baseline in total cholesterol (-0.3 ± 0.1 mmol/L) and LDL cholesterol (-0.3 ± 0.1 mmol/L), and the reduction in LDL cholesterol were significantly greater than in the control group (p = 0.03). Concentrated oat β-glucan was a fermentable fiber and produced total SCFA and acetate concentrations similar to inulin and guar gum. Concentrated oat β-glucan produced the highest concentrations of butyrate at 4, 8, and 12 hours. Six grams concentrated oat β-glucan per day for six weeks significantly reduced total and LDL cholesterol in subjects with elevated cholesterol, and the LDL cholesterol reduction was greater than the change in the control group. Based on a model intestinal fermentation, this oat β-glucan was fermentable, producing higher amounts of butyrate than other fibers. Thus, a practical dose of β-glucan can significantly lower serum lipids in a high-risk population and may improve colon health.

Guar gum: a miracle therapy for hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia and obesity.

Abstract: The number of hypercholesterolemic and hyperglycemic people is increasing rapidly in the world. The prevention against these health problems is related to a complex management of conventional and non-conventional risk factors. The inclusion of dietary fiber in the diet is the right approach to reduce these risks. Cholesterol and glucose lowering effects are most often associated with gelling, mucilaginous, and viscous fibers such as guar gum, an edible thickening agent. It has widespread applications in the food industry due to its ability to hydrate without heating. The demand for guar gum is still growing rapidly because in addition to its indispensable role in lowering serum cholesterol and glucose levels, it is also considered helpful in weight loss programs. The main thrust of therapeutic and medicinal properties lies in the soluble dietary fiber content of guar gum to improve the serum biochemical profile of human and non-human primates, reducing total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, increasing the high density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and the management of glycemic indices and obesity. Among the various intervention strategies, diet diversification is the right approach to overcome these problems. Composite flours containing wheat and legumes have proven practical uses and are being utilized in many parts of the world to improve the nutritional and functional properties of flour. The main focus of this manuscript is to review the available information on various aspects of guar gum with special reference to its effectiveness in reducing the cardiovascular disease risk, diabetes and weight loss programs.

Development of polysaccharide-based colon targeted drug delivery systems for the treatment of amoebiasis.

Abstract: The main focus of this study is to develop colon targeted drug delivery systems for metronidazole (MTZ). Tablets were prepared using various polysaccharides or indigenously developed graft copolymer of methacrylic acid with guar gum (GG) as a carrier. Various polysaccharides such as GG, xanthan gum, pectin, carrageenan, beta-cyclodextrin (CD) or methacrylic acid-g-guar (MAA-g-GG) gum have been selected and evaluated. The prepared tablets were tested in vitro for their suitability as colon-specific drug delivery systems. To further improve the colon specificity, some selected tablet formulations were enteric coated with Eudragit-L 100 to give protection in an acidic environment. Drug release studies were performed in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) for 2 hr followed by simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) at pH 7.4. The dissolution data demonstrate that the rate of drug release is dependent upon the nature and concentration of polysaccharide/polymer used in the formulations. Uncoated tablets containing xanthan gum or mixture of xanthan gum with graft copolymer showed 30-40% drug release during the initial 4-5 hr, whereas for tablets containing GG with the graft copolymer, it was 70%. After enteric coating, the release was drastically reduced to 18-24%. The other polysaccharides were unable to protect drug release under similar conditions. Preparations with xanthan gum as a matrix showed the time-dependent release behavior. Further, in vitro release was performed in the dissolution media with rat caecal contents. Results indicated an enhanced release when compared to formulations studied in dissolution media without rat caecal contents, because of microbial degradation or polymer solubilization. The nature of drug transport was found to be non-Fickian in case of uncoated formulations, whereas for the coated formulations, it was found to be super-Case-II. Statistical analyses of release data indicated that MTZ release is significantly affected by the nature of the polysaccharide used and enteric coating of the tablet. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated the presence of crystalline nature of drug in the formulations.

Study of galactomannose interaction with solids using AFM, IR and allied techniques.

Abstract: Guar gum (GG) and locust bean gum (LBG) are two galactomannose polysaccharides with different mannose/galactose ratio which is widely used in many industrial sectors including food, textiles, paper, adhesive, paint, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and mineral processing. They are natural nonionic polymers that are non-toxic and biodegradable. These properties make them ideal for industrial applications. However, a general lack of understanding of the interactions between the polysaccharides and solid surfaces has hindered wider application of these polymers. In this work, adsorption of locust bean gum and guar gum at the solid-liquid interface was investigated using adsorption tests, electrophoretic mobility measurements, FTIR, fluorescence spectroscopy, AFM and molecular modeling. Electrokinetic studies showed that the adsorption of GG and LBG on talc do not change its isoelectric point. In addition, GG and LBG adsorption on talc was found not to be affected by changes in solution conditions such as pH and ionic strength, which suggests a minor role of electrostatic force in adsorption. On the other hand, fluorescence spectroscopy studies conducted to investigate the role of hydrophobic bonding using pyrene probe showed no evidence of the formation of hydrophobic domains at talc-aqueous interface. Moreover, urea, a hydrogen bond breaker, markedly reduced the adsorption of LBG and GG on talc, supporting hydrogen bonding as an important role. In FTIR study, the changes in the infrared bands, associated with the CO stretch coupled to the CC stretch and OH deformation, were significant and therefore also supporting hydrogen bonding of GG and LBG to the solid surface. In addition, Langmuir modeling of adsorption isotherm further suggested that hydrogen bonding is the dominant force for polysaccharide adsorption since the adsorption free energy of these polymers is close to that for hydrogen bond formation. From molecular modeling, different helical structures are observed for LBG and GG because of their different galactose/mannose ratio and these polymers were found to adsorb flat on solid to let more of its OH groups in contact with the surface. All of the above results suggest that the main driving force for adsorption both of GG and LBG on talc is hydrogen bonding rather than hydrophobic force even though there is difference in G/M ratio between them.

Synthesis and characterization of cationic guar gum: A high performance flocculating agent

Abstract: Among various water-soluble polysaccharides, guar gum is one of the most important polysaccharide, which is having a wide variety of applications By grafting a cationic moiety onto the backbone of guar gum, a modified naturally occurring polysaccharide can be developed, which used to be use as high performance flocculating agent and viscosifier (Singh et al)15 Various grades of cationic guar gums have been synthesized by varying the synthesis parameters All these polysaccharides have been characterized by various characterization techniques, such as elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, intrinsic viscosity measurement, molecular weight determination, thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis From all of these characterization studies, it has been confirmed that the cationic moiety has been grafted onto the backbone of polysaccharide © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc J Appl Polym Sci, 2007

Gas generating composition

Abstract: Provided is a gas generating agent with a low combustion temperature and good ignition ability. The gas generating agent includes: (a) a fuel; (b) an oxidizing agent including a basic metal nitrate; (c) a basic metal carbonate; and (d) a binder (not including a component selected from starch, etherified starch, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, guar gum, etherified guar gum, tamarind gum, poly(vinyl alcohol), polyvinyl ether, polyacrylamide, polyethylene oxide, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone). The fuel of the component (a) includes melamine cyanurate (MC) and nitroguanidine (NQ), with MC/NQ (ratio of contents) of being within a range of 0.20 to 1.50.

Delayed crystallization of amorphous sucrose in humidified freeze dried model systems

Abstract: Summary Freeze dried model systems containing sucrose were humidified and moisture uptake measured as a function of time. Systems studied included combinations of sucrose with carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, garrofin gum, sodium alginate, starch and microcrystalline cellulose. In all systems studied sucrose crystallization occurred as indicated by the loss of moisture after an initial uptake period. Apparent rates of crystallization of amorphous sucrose were evaluated from changes in the moisture content. Sucrose crystallization was delayed in all systems studied as compared with pure sucrose.