INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY

    WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION



    TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOME
    FOOD COLOURS, EMULSIFIERS, STABILIZERS,
    ANTI-CAKING AGENTS AND CERTAIN
    OTHER SUBSTANCES



    FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series 
    No. 46A WHO/FOOD ADD/70.36




    The content of this document is the result of the deliberations of the
    Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives which met in Rome,
    27 May - 4 June 19691





    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

    World Health Organization



                   
    1 Thirteenth report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food
    Additives, FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series, in press;
    Wld Hlth Org. techn.  Rep. Ser., in press.


    TRAGACANYTH GUM

    Biological Data

    Biochemical aspects

    In a comparative study of the hypocholesterolemic activity of various
    mucilaginous polysaccharides tragacanth gum fed at a level of three
    per cent. along with three per cent. cholesterol in the diet of
    cockerels, inhibited the development of hypercholesterolemia (Riccardi
    & Fahrenbach, 1965). Tragacanth gum administered intraperitoneally,
    subcutaneously or per os 24 hours before hexobarbital has no effect
    on the hexobarbital sleeping time of mice. The effect of phenobarbital
    and urethan pre-treatment to induce a shortening of hexobarbital
    sleeping is blocked by interperitoneal injections of tragacanth gum,
    thus suggesting the presence of a hepatic effect of tragacanth gum
    (Fujimoto, 1965).

    Comments

    Little information is available despite traditional usage in
    pharmaceutical preparations. The metabolic fate of this gum in several
    species preferably including man should be studied. Ninety-day studies
    in several species are also required.

    EVALUATION

    Not possible on the data available.

    REFERENCES

    Fujimoto, J. M. (1965) Toxicol. appl, Pharmacol., 7, 287-290

    Riccardi, B. A. & Fahrenbach, M. J. (1965) Fed. Proc., 24, 263
    

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Tragacanth gum (WHO Food Additives Series 5)
       Tragacanth Gum (WHO Food Additives Series 20)
       TRAGACANTH GUM (JECFA Evaluation)