Refined Cassia Gum Powder as a Fat Substitute

Cassia gum powder has a large number of applications in industries stretching from food, cosmetics, textiles, paper to mining and others. It is one of the major contributors to the texture and feel of the products that we stumble across every day. The structure of the cassia powder imparts it numerous properties that make it one of the key ingredients in a wide array of industries. Guar gum is used as a thickening, binding, stabilizing, hydrating, binding agent. It is also preferred for application as an emulsifier and possesses the ability to be used in various formulations.

Properties of Refined Cassia Gum Powder

Refined cassia gum powder is nothing but a galactomannan polysaccharide having a high molecular weight. It has the ability to form viscoelastic gels with xanthan gum. The refined cassia powder is a free-flowing one without any presence of the lumps. Hence, it exhibits excellent solubility in water as it hydrates at  85°C, thus forming a low viscosity solution. Refined cassia gum powder conforms to the EEC standard E427 and that makes it felicitous for being used as an ingredient in food formulations.

The moisture content in the refined powder of cassia gum can maximum go up to 12% with pH value ranging from 6.5 to 7.5. In addition to that, the acid-insoluble matter and the acid content can only achieve a maximum value of 1.5%. Refined cassia gum powder also shows traces of protein content that can go up to 7%.

Basic Biological Nature and Impact on Industrial Usage of Cassia Tora Gum Powder

Applications of Refined Cassia Gum Powder

A wide variety of food applications include its usage in ham and sausages for gelling and texturizing, fat stabilizer and replacer in cheese spreads, yogurts, and ice-creams, stabilizer and gelling agent for meat and vegetable spreads, thickening agent in sauces and ketchup, water binding agent in the bakery, etc. Cassia gum powder has always been considered as a much cheaper alternative to the locust bean gum. It is also believed to reduce the content of kappa carrageenan in the already available recipe.

Refined Cassia Gum Powder as Fat Substitute

The modern demographic is getting health conscious with every day and hence they keep a check on their consumption of fat. They continuously look for low-fat content alternatives that will prove to be quite healthy to consume as a part of their dietary plan. Refined cassia gum powder is used as a fat substitute in cheese manufacturing. The main area of concern regarding cheese products is syneresis or weeping. Cassia gum powder helps in preventing this phenomenon by performing water phase management and also improves the texture of the product. It is used in soft cheese products and thus enhances the yield of curd solids. Additionally, the addition of refined cassia gum powder also results in providing a softer curve to the soft cheese items with their whey separated. Cassia powder has an advantage in producing low fat cheese products as it does not lead to much change in the rheology and texture of the lowe fat cheese products as compared to its counterpart, high-fat cheese products. Even in certain meat products, the addition of refined cassia gum powder leads to the prevention of fat migration when they are stored.

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Cassia Powder: Review on Ethnobotany and Phytochemical Profiles for Future Development

Cassia powder is derived from the cassia tora plant. This is small annual herb that grows as a common weed in the Asian countries and found throughout India. The plant extract is most famous for use in traditional medicines to cure various disease as well as emerging industrial applications.

The cassia plant is a well known ayurvedic medicine plant acting as a laxative, expectorant, action on cardiac diseases liver tonic and many other conditions.

The cassia powder is derived from the grounded and purified endosperm of the seeds of cassia tora plant. Seeds are de husked and degermed through thermal and mechanical treatment followed by milling and screening of the endosperm , further purification is done using isopropanol and the end product is an off white fine cassia powder.

cassia gum powder

Phytochemistry in Cassia Powder

The medicinal value of the cassia powder extract is due to the Phytochemicals present in the seeds that produce definite physiological action to the human body. These bioactive compounds are alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins, glycosides, proteins, tannins, phenols, anthraquinones, terpenoids and many others.

Ongoing scientific researches on the cassia powder suggest huge biological potential of the plant. Studies on the Phytochemicals and biological properties of the extracts show enough evidence for therapeutic value.  The efficacy of the phytochemicals from the cassia is affected by the geographical locations where the plant occurs and extraction techniques.

Phytochemical Action

Antioxidant Activity: the methanolic extracts from the seeds shows strong antioxidant with the phenolic active ingredient being alaternin.

Antibacterial effects: these are brought about by the presence of phenolic glycoside and their aglycones and have been seen to have effects on E.Coli and other pseudomonas strains as well as some strains of staphylococcus.

Anthelmintic Activity: this has been shown due to the presence of flavanoids in the cassia gum extract. This action has been seen against Pheretima Posthuma and ascardia galli species.

Other Properties of Cassia Powder

The cassia gum powder is comprised of 75% polysaccharide with a ratio of mannose to galactose of about 5:1.these results are obtained from sugar analysis tests using the high performance liquid chromatography procedure. It has fewer galactose molecules next to the mannose chain. This has a significant effect on the synergy of food grade cassia powder with other anionic food gums like the carrageenan or Xanthan gum. This translates to lesser amounts of cassia powder being required for gelling effect, as to when the carrageenan is used alone.

Some of the applications in foods include emulsifying, stabilizing, thickening, gelling and water retention properties.  The foods processed using cassia powder includes cheeses, frozen dairy desserts, meat products and manufacturing of poultry products.

With the increasing shift towards use of natural based chemicals for food and therapeutic purposes, the cassia powder economic potential grows every day. The traditional medicinal value of the cassia gum as herbal remedy has stimulated further research on the phytochemicals of the plant and active ingredients of economic importance. More clinical and pharmacological studies with standardized extracts are needed to uncover the unexploited potential of the cassia gum plant in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

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Phytochemical Constituents of Cassia Gum that Have Changed Lives

It is estimated that a high percentage of people living in the developing countries rely on various forms of traditional medicines for primary health care needs. The medicinal properties of these plants have made a great contribution in the development of traditional herbal therapies. The cassia gum contains a wide variety of phyto-pharmaceuticals that have become very important in various industries such as agriculture, human and vetinary medicines.

It is believed that herbal medicines have lesser side effects and less costly compared to the allopathic medicine. The cassia tora plant is well known for its extracts having high laxative and purgative purposes. The cassia gum powder is always utilized in research for its photochemistry and pharmacological properties ranging from anti – diabetic action to anti viral activity in the body. The powder has been reported in ancient ayurvedic literatures against skin diseases such as ring worms, eczema and scabies.

Cassia Gum

Phytochemical Constituents of Cassia Gum

Some of the important Phytochemicals of the cassia tora seeds include the cinnamaldehyde, gum, tannins, mannitol, coumarins pinene and eugenol. The leaves and seeds have been found to have laxative, antiperiodic, anthelmintic, ophthalmic, liver tonic, cardio tonic and expectorant properties. The chemicals have also been found to have anti leprosy activity, anti flatulence, anti bronchitis effect and high anti cough effects.

In the sub continent of India, the cassia plant extracts are used as natural pesticides in farms operating organic farming techniques.

Life Changing Cassia Gum Powder Medication on Malaria Parasites

In a detailed research on the Phytochemicals of the cassia tora plant, the cassia gum powder extract, processed through various chemically advanced methods also showed the presence of Glycosides and Saponins. The cassia gum powder extracted from the cassia tora plant showed to have strong larvicidal activity against the Anopheles stephensi mosquito species. The maximum action has been shown to occur when the alcoholic extraction method is used for the active ingredient in the cassia gum.

Tablet Binder Properties of Cassia Gum Powder

There is a lot of research going on for the usage of the cassia powder in the process of tablet binding during tablet manufacturing. This is due to the presence of the gluco-mannose chemicals on the seeds of the plant. The dried and coarse powder seeds of the cassia tora show a high percentage of mucilage that is useful in the tablet binding process. Furthermore the data shows that the mucilage has a favorable PH of 5.6 – 6.5, that has no effect on the gastro intestinal tract and the gum is suitable for use in uncoated tablets.

Other Functional Uses

The processed cassia gum galactomanan has important differences from other related galactomanans. The presence of a high number of galactose side chains prevents the synergistic gelling effects with other anionic polymers. Due to this fact, a smaller amount of the hydrocolloid blend of cassia gum is required to achieve similar effect, compared to when carrageenan alone is used. This translates to high savings on cost when large scale manufacturing is done.

As a result of this, the cassia gum powder has gained popularity in food industries such as in the manufacturing of cheeses, frozen dairy desserts, meat products such as salads and sandwiches and in the making of poultry products.

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Safety and Efficacy of Cassia Gum for the Pet Food Industry

The cassia obtusifolia, also referred to as cassia tora is a weed crop plant belonging to the Caesalpinaceae family. The plant mostly occurs in India, Nepal, china, Pakistan, Afganistan, mynmar and may also be found in Bhutan. The product is manufactured through grinding the cassia tora seeds. It is now a recognized food additive containing repeating units of galactose and mannose in a ratio of 5:1 respectively.

Currently, the Indian sub continent is the biggest manufacturer and exporter of the cassia gum powder. The powder is increasing in demand across the globe due to increasing applications in the food and feed industry as well as the beverage industry.

Cassia gum is currently authorized in feed with moisture content less than 12% as an emulsifying and stabilizing agent, thickener and gelling agent. The gum is also authorized for similar technological purposes in some food stuffs such as edible ice; dairy based desserts, fermented milk products, cheese, dressings and dehydrated soups.

According to the European food safety authority (EFSA) the cassia gum is used in combination with other gelling agents such as the kappa- carrageenan or the Xanthan gum during manufacture of the pet foods.

Thickening and Gelling Agent of cassia tora for Canned mammal feed

Anthraquinones content

The cassia gum is recognized to contain anthraquinones in it. This is a group of functional and diverse aromatic chemicals that are structurally related to anthracene, and has a parent structure 9, 10-dioxoanthracene. They occur naturally in the cassia species in free glycone and glycosylated forms.

The introduction of purification steps in production of cassia gum has resulted in considerable reduction in the anthraquinones concentration. The use of more specific analytical methods such as the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has enabled separation of individual anthraquinones. This has helped in better purification procedures to be developed. The specifications of cassia gum food additive allow a maximum content of total anthraquinones at 0.5mg/kg which is at the detection limit.

Stability and Homogeneity

Cassia gum powder is used as a food additive in combination with other gums in order to obtain the optimal gelling and stability. Research was conducted on the stability of the gel over a period of three months for canned dog food and showed no significant losses of gel strength.

Bio Availability

The anthraquinones present in the cassia gum are considered to be poorly bio available and hence minimal side effects to pet animals. It is also thought that where a fraction is absorbed, they undergo liver oxidative and conjugative bio transformation and finally excreted by the body.

Efficacy

Research has been done on the efficacy of the cassia gum powder, by studying the gel strength values of the complete canned dog food. It was observed after three months of storage that the products remains stable and it has no effect on other product ingredients hence remains very effective.

Safety to Pet Animals

Research has concluded that only semi refined cassia gum that meets specifications of cassia gum as a pet food additive should be used in the manufacturing of pet foods. The maximum allowable content should also be maintained as 13200 mg/kg complete feed.

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Application of Cassia Gum Powder in Beverages

Cassia gum powder is extracted from the endosperms of the seeds of Senna obtusifolia and Senna Tora. They are also known as Cassia obtusifolia & Cassia tora respectively. Cassia gum comprises at least 75% polysaccharide with the mainly composed of galactomannan. It has a mannose: galactose ratio of 5:1 that results in a higher molecular mass.

The colour of cassia gum powder is off-white and odorless in nature. Its structure imparts it several properties that make it suitable for application in numerous industries. The cassia tora plant also consists of around 1-2% cassia oil that imparts a spicy aroma and improves the food taste.

Properties of Cassia Powder

Cassia powder comprises of 75% polysaccharides by weight. This makes it highly soluble in hot water to form a full stable viscous gel. It thus finds application in industries to be used as emulsifiers, thickeners, and stabilizer additives. Cassia gum powder is used extensively preferred for use in the food industry. It is used as an additive for human feed as well as pet and cattle feed products. The cassia seedling constitutes of resins, sugars, tannins, gums, mucilage, oils, and cinnamaldehyde that makes the cassia powder a very natural choice for its use as food additives. Additionally, it is also used as pesticides, since it is a natural ingredient. The cassis powder, therefore, is used as an additive in pet food and cattle feed products as well as the powder does not cause any toxic effects on the animals. It is considered safe to be used for both animal feed and human food thickening.

cassia gum powderCassia Powder in Beverages

Cassia powder is the most preferred natural ingredient in the food industry. It is used as a thickener, foam stabilizer, and water retention agent for making different beverages. It is also used as a food additive in making cheese, frozen dairy desserts, meats, and poultry products. The seeds of cassia have several health benefits in them. For long, cassia gum powder has been preferred for ayurvedic applications for the treatment of several diseases. Cassia seed along with haw, pollen, honey, and jasmine are utilized in preparing the healthy beverage. It helps in lowering the blood fat & blood pressure and exhibits curing effect for diseases, like photophobia, constipation, cerebral vascular sclerosis, neurasthenia, gastroenteritis disorder, climacteric syndromes, prostatitis, etc.

Additionally, the bark of cassia induces hot taste and is thus preferred in winters to make the body warm. Cassia tora tea is prepared from the cassia seeds and is in high demand in Korea. A health drink made from cassia seed holds great medical importance in China. The preparation of this drink involves a series of procedures, like impurity removing, toasting, peeling, and powdering. It is made sure that the concentration of the main component of this drink, i.e. Cassia seed, is kept high in order to have a greater utilization ratio. This drink can be considered for long-term consumption and has no side effect.


The Bottom Line:

The structure of cassia gum powder imparts it several benefits that make it suitable for various industrial applications. Cassia gum has several health benefits and is used in the preparation of beverages that have great nutritional advantages. The fact that the cassia powder is a great thickening, foam stabilizing and water retention agent highlights its importance as an ingredient in the preparation of numerous beverages.

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Global Hydrocolloid Market in the Food Industry

Hydrocolloid is a substance that creates a gel by making use of water. It has several applications in many industries like food processing industry. Hydrocolloids are very popular and are a wafer type dressing with agents that form a gel in an adhesive compound. It is a heterogeneous group of long-chain polymers that has the ability to modify the rheology of food systems. It affects the viscosity (flow behaviour) and texture (mechanical solid property).

There has been a rise in demand for hydrocolloid market which is mainly due to the processed food industry. Several statistics suggest that the hydrocolloid market will reach $108.5 billion by 2020. There are many applications in several other industries like pharmaceutical, mining, tobacco, textile, oil drilling, and more.

Importance of Hydrocolloid

Cassia Gum Powder is comparatively new food hydrocolloids. Caesalphiniacease is a wild crop found in several parts of the Indian Subcontinent and is useful to produce cassia gum powder. It is also found in several other regions like China, Indonesia. It is useful as a thickening agent, emulsifier & texturizer and has several applications in many different industries.

There are many applications for Hydrocolloids including that for medical treatment. A dressing created with the help of hydrocolloids has an ability to provide an optimal healing environment. The fact that it is moist and insulating is an added advantage. If a wound is free from infection, the use of hydrocolloids is very useful; since it allows the enzymes of the body itself to heal a wound. Some of the popular properties of hydrocolloids include:

  • Waterproof backing
  • Consists of gel-forming agents
  • It is available in several shapes and sizes.
  • There is an adhesive border which is optional.

It also has several applications in the food industry besides the medical industry. Some of the popular hydrocolloids are Guar Gum Powder and Cassia Gum Powder. The popular applications of hydrocolloids in the food industry include use as a food additive and health promoter. It has several useful properties that are vital to the food industry.

  • Thickener
  • Gelling Agent
  • Fat Replacer
  • Emulsifier
  • Clarifying Agent
  • Whining Agent
  • Flocculating Agent
  • Clouding Agent

 Hydrocolloids in the Food Industry

Demand for Cassia Gum Powder

The global market for food stabilizer has been growing and is likely to grow further. In fact, as per several statistics, it grows at a CAGR of 4% by 2020. Ready to eat or processed food is becoming more popular and the growth of the global hydrocolloid market is likely to increase  demand for such convenient food. The food market in India and China are the main targets for such food items due to rapid urbanization and number more of working women.

Here are several statistics and facts that help understand the rise in demand for hydrocolloids:

  • Hydrocolloids market has estimated to account for 8.8 Billion USD in 2018.
  • It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% between 2018 & 2023 and reach a value of 11.4 Billion USD by 2023.
  • Hydrocolloids are increasing in demand due to the rise in demand for convenience food.
  • The change in lifestyle and eating habits of consumers across the globe is contributing to increase in demand of hydrocolloids.
  • The people are becoming more conscious about their diet and nutrition hence this too has been a contributing factor.
  • Although, food & beverages sector is the fastest growing segment that has resulted in  high demand for hydrocolloids, there are several other sectors that have also contributed. This includes cosmetics & personal care products and pharmaceutical industry as well.
  • Some of the common food products that have contributed to the increase in demand are dairy products, confectionery, meat & poultry products, beverages, bakery items, sauces and dresses.
  • The main application in food products is as in the form of an emulsifier, fat replacer, gelling agent and stabilizer.
  • There is a steady increase in demand since 2016 and it is expected to grow rapidly till 2023. This rise is global and includes countries in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific.

Thus, the global hydrocolloid market is on the rise and it is mainly due to the food industry. This trend is likely to continue into the future thus increasing the demand for hydrocolloids like Cassia Gum Powder.

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Global Food Regulatory Information for Cassia Gum Powder

Cassia Gum Powder is produced from the seed of a crop known as Caesalpiniaceae, that grows in many parts of India. It happens to be a natural gelling agent and has several applications in the food industry and several other industries as well. Cassia has several useful properties, it acts as a stimulant, carminative, and tonic. Cassia also contributes to the spicy aroma and taste. It is a natural pesticide for organic farms and is also very popular in the pet industry.

This article goes on to provide important statistics and facts about Cassia Gum Powder which makes it evident that it is in demand; as well as the regulatory information for different countries.

Important Stats and Facts

  • Cassia Gum Powder market was valued at 10.1$ million US in 2015.
  • Between 2018 and 2023 there is expected to be a CAGR of 6.7%.
  • There is expected to be a CAGR of more than 6% by 2022.
  • Dog food is expected to account for a fair share of the demand by 2023.
  • The use of Cassia-Gum Powder has been approved in several countries in Europe, as well as China and Japan.
  • This market is segmented into North America, South America,, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa.
  • North America is likely to dominate the market share by approximately 30%.
  • The other top regions include Asia-Pacific, Africa with Western Europe being last.
  • Demand for Cassia is on the rise globally due to the change in the rules & regulations in several regions around the world. This includes countries like Japan, China, Europe, America.
  • It tops a list of food stabilizers in Europe.
  • There is high demand in countries like USA, Canada, China, Mexico, India, Australia, South Africa, Brazil and Turkey.

cassia gum powder

Regulatory information for Cassia Gum Powder

  • Europe: It is approved for use in Europe as a stabilizer, thickening agent, and gelling agent for the use as canned pet food (exclusively for cats and dogs). It has been approved by the Europe Commission Directive (ECC No. E 499). It has also been approved for use for human food applications as of 2010. It has also been recognized for use as “GRAS” in food for a maximum of 2%. It has approved for use mainly in baked foods, cheese, jams, and jellies.

  • Japan: Japan has also given the approval to use it as a food additive. This approval is by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as of August 1995.
  • United States: It has been analysed by the experts in several areas to ensure it is safe to use. Experts from toxicology, pharmacology and food science have reviewed the safety of cassia gum powder for use as a thickening agent. This analysis has been conducted for use by humans and for the purpose of pet food as well. The review has received ‘GRAS’ approval (General recognized as safe). for food products. The approval for use as a stabilizer is still pending.

  • Australia: It is approved by the Australian government to use in the Australian market.

The approval has been listed in the Annex of the Council Directive as approved by commission directive. The main purpose to the Annex of the Council Directive is to protect plants from any harmful organism as well as prevent it from spreading. This includes rules to prevent importing harmful organism from entering as well. The directive states that the substance should not endanger any animal or human health. In the case where it is found to be harmful to either animals or humans, it will be suspended for up to 4 months.

As per the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the tolerance level for pesticide reside of the foods has been set. Thus, if any food contains a residue it will be seized by the Government; it is also possible for the Government to seize the commodity if necessary. The product also needs to be approved by the National Toxicology Program (NTP).  Any product approved by NTP is safe for humans and animals to consume. NTP states that the products are scientifically tested.

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Cassia Powder vs Henna for Hair Treatment

Cassia Powder is derived from Caesalpiniacease, which is a wild crop. It grows in several parts of India as a weed and has many useful properties. It is a natural gelling agent and has several applications in the food and personal care industry. One of the other popular usages of Cassia Powder (Cassia Obovata) is for the purpose of hair treatment.

Henna is a plant whose leaves contain a red resin pigment. It has several applications like that for body art, hair colour, etc. It is also known as Mehndi. The way it works is the leaves of a plant are crushed and once the liquid is added, colour is released into the water. Mehndi is essentially a dye that is prepared from the plant Heena plant. This plant is known for several other names like Lawsonia inermis, henna tree, mignonette tree, and an Egyptian privet.

Cassia Powder for Hair Treatment

  • Cassia Powder will not stain the hands while Heena powder will stain.
  • It helps with moisturization of the hair, unlike Heena powder.
  • Hair will get a very glossy, strong and shiny effect one using it.
  • It is an excellent hair conditioner and does not contain any chemical preservatives.
  • The entire process of application of this powder is much faster as well.
  • It provides important nutrients to the hair and protects them against damage.
  • It is effective in curing sebum excess, reduces shedding, breakage and helps rejuvenates hair as well.
  • It is also very healthy for the scalp, is a cure for dandruff and heals irritation of scalp as well.
  • This is a cost-effective solution for hair treatment.
  • For those suffering from dry hair conditions, oily hair due to hormonal changes this is the perfect treatment.
  • It is very useful for treatment of dermatitis, desquamation, psoriasis.
  • It is useful to heal damaged cuticle and even prevents dandruff since it has antiseptic properties.
  • Fixed split ends and smooths burnt cuticles which are generally caused due to heat.
  • Strengthens hair structure and making it healthier, smoother and also reduced hair loss.
  • It is a natural conditioner and also purifies the scalp.
  • Makes the hair mineral rich and more elastic and improves shine.
  • One of the major advantages being it does not contain any dye or colouring agent like chamomile.

Henna for Hair

  • Henna is an invaluable ingredient to dye the hair naturally.
  • It can strengthen hair and help nourish and condition the tresses from deep.
  • It boosts hair growth and promotes hair growth exponentially and also reduces hair fall.
  • Improves follicle health and is beneficial for the scalp.
  • Makes hair silky and smooth, prevents dandruff and also helps with removal of excess grease and dirt.
  • It has antifungal and antimicrobial properties to cool and soothe the scalp and ease itchiness.
  • It is healthy, cost-effective and does not contain any chemicals
  • Useful for split ends and damaged or dry hair.
  • It helps make the hair thick and lustrous.
  • There is no a lot of option in terms of hair colour.
  • At times, it can have unpredictable results and some drying effect as well.
  • It is time-consuming and can get messy as well.

The Verdict

Both Heena and Cassia powder (Cassia Obovata) are good for the hair. Hence if you do not mind a reddish colour and do not mind using a dye, Heena is a good option. But one needs to beware that it can cause dryness and loss of curl definition and stain as well. On the other hand, Cassia Powder is a natural conditioner, does not stain or add a colour shade to your hair either.

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Cassia Polymers – Application in Conditioning Shampoo

Cassia gum is a naturally occurring, vegetable-based carbohydrate. Comprising of at least 75% polysaccharide, cassia gum is primarily a galactomannan having mannose and galactose ratio of 5:1. It is grown extensively in tropical zones and has been used for a long time in Ayurvedic medications. Cassia is also used in Chinese medications for treating a number of diseases, such as- skin ailments, indigestion, and pain. Apart from its medicinal applications, it is also preferred for use as a gelling agent in pet and human food applications.

Cassia Gum properties

Cassia gum powder has a unique structure and it can be modified to generate cationic galactomannans with higher levels of cationic substitution. This modification produces 2 new cationic cassia conditioning polymers, namely-cassia hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride with significant cationic charge density. The presence of higher charge levels in cationic cassia polymers leads to the formation of coacervate. This coacervate is formed during shampoo dilution in the form of a non-soluble complex. The surfactant formulations with cationic cassia polymers exhibit a higher level of coacervate formation as compared to other polymers.

Summary: Cassia gum has a unique structure and is modified to produce cationic galactomannans with higher levels of cationic substitution. This modification leads to the generation of cassia polymers having significant cationic charge density.

Cassia Powder

Cassia Polymer

The cassia polymer is a naturally derived and multifunctional polymer that helps in efficient silicon deposition. It also imparts a different sensory experience and improved conditioning performance in hair cleansing.  Apart from being used to produce shampoos, the polymers made from cassia gum are also used in the formulation of other products as well, such as- Body washes, shower gels, facial cleansers, hair mousses, styling crèmes, and lotions.

Cassia gum as an efficient Conditioning Polymer

Conditioning shampoos are always considered as an interesting prospect since it offers the convenience of cleansing and conditioning in a single step. The formulation of this product, though, is a bit complex due to contrasting mechanisms. The shampoo must be designed in a manner that it removes and solubilizes the soil and at the same time deposits conditioning ingredients. This is achieved by coacervation. The anionic surfactants and cationic conditioning polymers have the ability to be formulated together to produce a stable shampoo structure. The polymers made from cassia gum have excellent coacervate formation ability and thus aids in producing such shampoos.

The main function of cationic conditioning polymers is to improve the amount of silicone that gets deposited on the hair during the shampoo cycle. These silicones improve the hair feel, shine, and manageability. Cassia polymers leads to an increased coacervate formation that eventually aids in effective deposition of silicone and other ingredients into the hair fibers.

Additionally, the cationic cassia polymers also ease the combing and improve the feel & detangling of hair in both the wet and dry stage. As compared to other usual polymers, cassia gum derived polymers are much more effective in providing such experiences.

Summary: Cassia polymer is a naturally derived polymer and is used to produce conditioning shampoos. The cassia polymers are considered to be a better alternative than other polymers as they exhibit a higher level of coacervate formation. The coacervation leads to better deposition of conditioner ingredients.

The Bottom Line: Cassia polymers, obtained from the modification of cassia gum, is used extensively in the formulation of conditioning shampoos. The conditioning shampoos is preferred widely as it provides the shampoo and conditioning operation in a single step. The Cassia polymers help in the better deposition of silicone that leads to an improvement in hair feel and shine.
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Usage of Cassia Gum in Producing Air Fresheners

Air fresheners are used to emit fragrance in order to suppress the foul smell and make the space pleasant. They are extensively used in homes, restrooms, foyers, hallways, vestibules and other smaller indoor areas, as well as larger areas such as hotel lobbies, medical facilities, public arenas, and other large interior spaces. These days, a number of air fresheners are developed, such as- electric fan air fresheners, gravity drip hygiene odour control cleaning systems, passive non-mechanical evaporating aroma diffusers, metered aerosol time-operated mist dispensers, sprays, candles, oils, gels, beads, and plug-ins. Additionally, air fresheners also utilize organic as well as household items.

Cassia gum, due to its property of acting as a gelling agent, is used in producing air fresheners. These air fresheners are available in the form of gels.

Summary: Air fresheners are widely used in rooms, restrooms, hallways, etc. to emit fragrance in order to reduce the foul smell. Air fresheners are available in several variants- electric fan air fresheners, gravity drip hygiene odour control cleaning systems, etc. Organic components are also utilized these days for the production of air fresheners to reduce their side-effects.

cassia powder for air freshenerCassia Gum

Cassia gum is a high molecular weight polysaccharide comprising of galactomannans. The galactose and mannose are in the ratio of 1:5. The cassia gum powder is produced from Cassia Tora seeds. The seeds are de-husked and de-germed by milling and screening the endosperm. There are various mechanical cleaning steps which are taken in order to remove impurities from the seeds, such as- farm waste, undeveloped seeds, and stones. The splits are obtained from seeds by thermal & mechanical treatment and later these splits are grounded to form uniform small sized particles.

Cassia gum powder is soluble in hot water and on heating, fully solubilizes and reaches full viscosity in the aqueous solution. It is comprised of at least 75 % polysaccharide, which primarily consists of a linear chain of 1, 4-β-D-mannopyranose units with 1, 6 linked α-D-alactopyranose units.

Summary: Cassia gum is produced from Cassia Tora seeds and is a polysaccharide comprising of galactomannans. The seeds of Cassia Tora are de-husked and de-formed by milling the endosperm and with further thermal & mechanical treatment, splits are obtained. These splits are grounded to form small size cassia gum powder.

Cassia Gum as a Gelling Agent
Cassia gum is considered as one of the finest gelling agents, thickening additives, emulsifying additives and stabilizing additives. It has the ability to form firm thermoplastic gels with carrageenan. Cassia gum, when combined with Xanthan gum, forms a cohesive and elastic gel. Both of them do not possess the ability to form gels on their own. For its property of acting as a gelling agent, it is used widely to produce air fresheners. The cassia gum powder air fresheners come in the form of gels and emit a very pleasant smell.

The refined cassia gum powder has a high availability of galactose side chains which prohibit the gelling effect with anionic polymers. Hence, a hydrocolloid blend containing cassia gum is added in the food product in order to achieve the same effect as it is obtained with carrageenan or blends of carrageenan with other related galactomannans. Apart from the gelling agent, cassia gum is also used as thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer, and bonding agent.

Summary: Cassia gum has the ability to form firm thermoplastic gels with carrageenan and it is considered to be amongst one of the pre-eminent gelling agents. Cassia gum and Xanthium gum do not possess the ability to form gels on their own. Although, they both combine together to form a cohesive & elastic gel. Additionally, Cassia gum is also used as a thickener, emulsifier, etc.

The Bottom Line: Air fresheners are used for the reduction of foul smells or for emitting fragrance in a space. The cassia gum has the ability to form a gelling agent with carrageenan, Xanthan gum, etc. and is used as an air freshener. This air freshener comes in the form of a gel and is widely preferred.

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