ABSTRACT
Some common gums used in medicinal products include tragacanth, arabic (acacia), sterculic (karaya), agar, and plantago seed. The latter of these is used as a cathartic whose action is due to the swelling of the mucilaginous seed coat, thus giving both bulk and lubrication. Agar has an algae plant base and has been used as a bulk laxative as well as a bacteriological culture medium. Gum karaya is also used as a bulk laxative while tragacanth is employed in hand lotions or as a demulcent and emollient and acacia as a suspending agent.
