How Cassia Powder in Ayurvedic Treatment is Useful to Human Health

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Ajit Patel

Ayurvedic treatment has been going strong for ages and is believed to have a cure for number of diseases. It makes use of naturally occurring herbs for the treatment without causing any side-effects. The main concept of ayurvedic treatment is that there must be a balance maintained between our body, mind, and spirit to achieve good health and wellness. It is considered to be the most effective remedial practice that everything on earth must follow disciplined order of living for leading a healthy and progressive life. The modern-day medications do more bad than good as it generates various side effects on an individual’s body. As a result, there is a paradigm shift observed amongst the patients toward the ayurvedic treatment.

Cassia Powder

Cassia powder has always been a preferred choice of drug for ayurvedic applications. The properties of Cassia seeds like laxative, antibacterial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, smooth muscle stimulant, hepatoprotective, analgesic, hypoglycemic, anticancer, abortifacient, anti-colic, antifertility, estrogenic, etc. make it suitable for treatment. It is used as a cure for several diseases like- kushtha (skin diseases), hridroga (cardiac problems), vatarakta (gout), raktapitta (blood disorders), madhumeha (diabetes mellitus), visarpa (herpes), jvara (febrile conditions), etc.

Summary: Cassia gum properties are tapped in to produce various effective ayurvedic medications. These medications can be used as a cure for diseases like hridroga (cardiac problems), raktapitta (blood disorders), etc.

Cassia Powder Ayurvedic Applications
Cassia roots are used for the treatment of cold and it is considered to be one of the most effective cures available. It also has the ability to act as a panacea for other ailments, like that of the kidney, liver, and intestines.

Other applications of Cassia powder includes its usefulness as an antibiotic. It is a good remedy for skin diseases like- ringworm, tinea, leprosy, scabies, leukoderma, eczema, psoriasis, and even acne. The anti-inflammatory properties of cassia gum are tapped to be used as an herbal formulation in ayurvedic medication. It is used in ointments which helps to reduce the swelling. Cassia powder is believed to improve the gastric secretions in our body which leads in the digestion of food. It also contains retinoic acid which leads to improved vision.

The bark of cassia holds great medicinal value and is used in various methods across the world. It is capable of treating diarrhea, cold, nausea, painful menstruation and flatulence.

Summary: The roots of cassia are very effective in curing cold and is also used for the treatment of kidney, liver, and intestines. The anti-inflammatory properties of cassia gum make it to be used as herbal formulation. It can also improve the digestion of food and helps in improving vision.

The Bottom Line: Ayurvedic treatment is enjoying a little preference over the modern day medication as the latter induces a lot of side-effects. Cassia powder, with its great medicinal benefits, is used vastly in ayurvedic medications for the treatment of diseases like- skin diseases, kushtha (skin diseases), vatarakta (gout), etc.

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Application of Semi Refined Cassia Gum Powder in Cosmetic Industry

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Ajit Patel

Looking beautiful is a wish of almost every human being. Today, the increased use of cosmetic products has boosted the cosmetic industries.
No doubt, people look for a good product and are more concerned about the contents used in making of cosmetic products. The approach toward natural products has declined the use of the chemical based product.

If you are already rooted in the cosmetic industry then should know about the wonderful natural seed which works as a natural thickening agent in cosmetic products. Cassia tora or popularly recognized as Senna tora is a dicot legume which belongs to a subfamily of Caesalpinioideae. This naturally thickening agent is also available in other names – tora, sicklepod, coffee pod, and foetid cassia

What is Cassia Gum?
It’s certainly important to know about the ingredient which you are adding in your cosmetic products. The Cassia powder or gum is a polymer of galactose and mannose sugar. Cassia gum is a powder obtained from the endosperm of the seeds of Cassia tora. It has water solubility property which remarks it as an important additive in the cosmetic products.

This naturally thickening agent is yellow to off-white colour in appearance. When this natural ingredient is dissolved in hot water it turns into a thick gel.
Cassia tora even turns into a gel when gets in contact with xanthan and carrageenan.

Uses of Semi Refined Cassia gum in the cosmetic world:

Addition in shampoos and conditioners:

The addition of Cassia tora powder in shampoos and conditioners provides softness and smoothness to the products.
Use of cassia gum enhances viscosity and provides a thick paste-like form which prevents overuse of product meanwhile preserves the hair from damages as well. It makes the product, easy to use and apply.
The natural ingredient develops a shielding film around the hairs to cover it from any kind of damage caused by other harmful chemicals.
The outer layer built around the hair and some product retained on the strands prevents from the damage caused by blow-drying or heat application on hair.

Addition in face creams and skin lotions:

Semi-refined Cassia Gum is added in creams and lotions to thicken them.
This additive agent shields the skin from dry air and provides a glowing look for a complete day.
The cassia powder is cationic in nature which binds with the anionic components of hair as well as skin. Hence it stays for a longer period of time.
The natural agent provides viscosity and increases the shelf life of the products.

Addition of this natural gum in shaving gels:

The use of a natural thickening agent provides creamlike texture to the shaving gels.
The cassia gum present in the shaving gel creates a stabilized thin layer on the skin which smoothen the movement of the razor on the skin.

Addition in soaps:

It is generally observed that the use of soap causes dryness on the skin which results in an itchy feeling.
Use of cassia powder as an additive to liquid soaps increases the gel formation and develops a protective layer around the skin which locks the moisture and protects it from dry air.
Cassia gum powder is also added in cosmetics like concealers, foundations etc to reduce surface tension and to provide a smooth texture to the product. It makes the product easy to use and allows the even spread over the face, ultimately providing a professional touch.
If you are a brand lover and always opt for the best cosmetic product of the market, then you are well aware of the fact that good makeup products are costly.
Addition of semi-refined cassia gum powder in cosmetic products increases the shelf life of the product. This additive is skin friendly and good for skin as well.

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Bulk Quantity Exporter of Cassia Torea Seed (Cassia Tora Seed) From India

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Ajit Patel

Cassia Tora is obtained from a plant by the name Senna tora which mainly grows in the wild. This grows in the tropics and is also considered as a weed in some places. Central America is known for this plant and is a herbaceous annual fetid herb. It is also found in the tropical regions of India, for example in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The plant is from the Caesalpinaceae family and their seeds are very rough and hard. The seeds are small in size and of high quality and shiny. It has many applications including that in the medical and pharmaceutical industry.

Properties of Cassia Torea

Cassia has the ability to regulate liver, kidney and intestine channels.

The fresh seeds of cassia have chrysophanol, aurantio-obtusin and vitamin-A value.

It has several vital properties to help skin disease like antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, germicidal and anti-parasitic nature.

It is an anti-inflammatory property hence is useful in herbal formulations.

Cassia Torea Seed Export stats and facts

India exports to more 80 countries around the globe.

Some of the countries India exports include Australia, Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Brazil, Czech Republic, Japan, Ireland, Italy, Indonesia, Mexico, Scotland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States.

This mainly grows in the Northern regions of the India.

India exports this to several countries like many European countries, Australia, USA, Canada, Russia, Brazil, China, Dubai, Mexico, Korea & many others.

There is expected to be an average annual growth in of 6.3% per annum in demand for Cassia in the period up to 2025.

Growing Cassia Tora Seed generates a lot of jobs as well.

Depending on the type of seller (farmer, agent, etc.); Selling Cassia Tora Seeds internationally can fetch anywhere between 15% to 110% profit.

One of the biggest importers of this is China.

India is the largest exporter of Cassia Tora Powder.

Demand for Cassia in the cosmetic segment is expected to rise by 48% by 2025.

There is a high demand in Western Europe as well and it is predicted to remain at 34.8 % market value.

There is an increase in use of Cassia in several markets especially cassia tora plant in the next 5 years.

The growth of global cassia seed extract market is mainly driven increasing demand for organic food.

Other factors driving the global cassia seed market are the growing economy, increasing per capita income, rapid rate of urbanization, and increase in employment rate.

Applications of Cassia Torea Seeds

Cassia Tora Seeds have many applications as per the list here:

It is good a protein feed for birds and livestock (especially good if dehydrated).

It has medicinal value as well; can treat snakebite, cure ringworm.

Cassia tora was also put to use by our ancestors to cure several skin problems like leprosy, ringworm. It was also useful for treating any disorder with the liver.

It has a gelling property and this makes it beneficial for cattle food and in the meat industry.

Improves Gastric Secretions thus helps digestion.

Thus, Cassia Tora often known as Senna Tora is a wild weed plant that grows in several countries like India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. It has great medicinal value and help ailments in Kidney, Liver, etc. It can also help with skin diseases. There is an increasing demand for it and it is likely to rise in the near future.

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Cassia Torea Meal (Cassia Churi) – An Animal and Cattle Feed Bulk Product Exporter from India

Posted on January 29, 2019 by Ajit Patel

Cassia Tora Meal is a valuable feed ingredient used in animal and cattle feed industry. It contains a high amount of protein and amino acids. When it comes to animal feed production, the moderate expense is considered and there is no compromise in the nutritional supplement in feed preparations. Cassia tora meal helps in achieving rich protein feed that result in good growth of the animals. Additionally, it is also considered as an alternative to other supplementary products like soya bean, groundnut etc. For the production of cassia torea meal, the cassia tora seeds are been processed and the remaining leftover germs and husk becomes the cassia meal for animals so as to increase the protein content. It is considered the perfect feed for animals, due to the presence of silica, fiber, and moisture.

How it is used?

Farmers, during the preparation of cattle feed mix the ingredients in proportion so as to obtain the right quantity & texture. It is been prepared on the basis of possibility & capability of consumption by animals that also gives better viscosity and productivity in animal feed production.

Effect of Cassia Tora Meal in Cattle

Cassia torea meal has been produced from cassia tora seeds are a source of protein that can be added to the cattle concrete mixture. When mixed in cattle feed production, the result indicated that there was no adverse effect of cassia tora meal on milk yield. It also found economical for farmers to give cassia tora meal to cattle. Along with this it can also be given to other animals like milch cow, chicks, buffalos etc.

Global Market Analysis of Cassia Tora Meal

Cassia tora meal has added a global demand to the animal industry and is also been used in many regions of the world. Other than animals there are also many companies using cassia gum powder produced from cassia tora seeds used in industries like pet food etc. Many countries like Europe, Japan as well as China have approved the use of cassia gum powder.

Nowadays, cassia tora is been expected as an upward trend during the forecast period. Along with these companies are also introducing with cassia tora into their new products. India, considered as the major manufacturer and supplier of cassia tora seeds.

Altrafine is a bulk exporter of Cassia Tora Meal from India that is used in animal industry. Along with this, we are also manufacturer and supplier of guar gum powder, fast hydration guar gum powder, cassia tora powder and many more.

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Challenges in Quality Consistency of Cassia Gum for Industrial Application

Posted on May 10, 2018 by Ajit Patel

About Cassia Gum

Cassia Plants are widely distributed in tropical and sub- tropical regions globally and extensive research has been done upon, chemically.
Cassia gum have been an attraction point since many decades for many phytochemists over the globe. It has large and varied predominant genus of about 580 species of herbs and trees out of which 20 are grown and found in INDIA.

As we know, cassia gum is a flour made from the endosperms of seeds called cassia tora. It is mainly used as the thickening and the gelling agent in pet food industry and other technical applications which helps in emulsification, foam stabilization, texture improvement and more.
There are varied other industrial applications as thickener, gelling agent, emulsifier, bonding agent and etc. respectively.

Pet Food Industry for Dog & Cat
Cattle & Poultry Feed
Dairy Products
Cosmetics
Food Industry

It becomes extremely significant to choose the right manufacturer and exporter for cassia gum as one needs to have consistency in quality of the product.

There Are Few Challenges Faced for Industrial Application

The challenges faced by the buyers are:

Consistency in quality & quantity.
Advanced infrastructure andresearch & development.
Certifications of safety.

Why it’s important to maintain quality and quantity of cassia gum?

Any industry’s success lies in the supply of quality products to their esteem customers. The biggest challenge of all time for industrial application is to get qualitative and quantitative consistencyof cassia gum and derivatives to the buyers for production.

As said, cassia gum is being utilized in varied industries, so these industries have certain fix requirement and criteria for it.
Sometimes these industries also orders more quantity of cassia gum and in different variations.
To deliver manufactured commodity on time and during market demand, it is statutory and prominent to get cassia gum derivatives in required quantity without any hindrance and same quality every time.
Let’s say, if cosmetic company is manufacturing and delivering products which have inconsistency in quality, the market demand for the company’s product would reduce and will lead to low profits and success.
Hygiene in the manufacturing unit and adequate packaging methodology during supplying and exporting to buyers have the major influence to product grade which is another big challenge.

The most important factor that is being faced is the supply of the product in adequate and required quantity maintaining hygienic and customised packaging methodology.

Sometimes, it happens that the manufacturer face the shortage of cassia gum or its derivatives during production process and then production gets on hold.
Let’s say, if a pet food manufacturer face the shortage of cassia gum, the whole production gets delayed and so do the supply in the market.
It becomes sometimes really difficult to find companies with proper production capacity to receive product in bulk for desired end result.

Companies with small production unit find constraints to fulfil the orders and demand.

Advance Infrastructure and Research & Development

It’s vital to check the technological advancement of the infrastructure of cassia gum companies and also important to have a gist, if the company comprises research & development centre.
Before, ordering cassia gum and it derivatives, buyer needs to check the infrastructure of the unit owned by the supplier and manufacturer. There are few checklist for the same.

One shall know, if the unit is following hygiene standards.
Technological advancement is must – see factor.
Do the company have quality assurance team!
Whether packaging standard are maintained.
Important to check new identification and development of methodology.

Other factors that is important to check to overcome challenges of utilizing cassia gum.

Cassia gum manufacturing companies should have CGMP and SSOP assured standards.
Vital aspect to check is that, the companies shall be receiving raw material to produce cassia gum derivatives from the suppliers, who are having adequate soil conditions in the farm.
Transportation facilities shall adhere adequate hygiene regulations.

Certifications Check

Certainly, there are various companies who do not have required certifications and that becomes the major challenge for the buyers. Hence, this can be overcome and here are the insights of few from various certification cassia gum and derivatives manufacturers and suppliers shall have.
Few of many certifications cassia gum exporters and manufacturers shall obtained.

BRC Certifications- proof of safety, quality and other operational criteria. This certificate makes sure that the company of supplier is out of legal liabilities.

FSSC 22000 Certifications – it is global certification, required to be obtained by companies manufacturing food products.

FAMI QS Certifications – it is global certification, required to be obtained by companies manufacturing feed products.

Conclusion

Looking and considering the above factors, it is crucial to choose the right cassia gum and its derivatives manufacturer, exporter and supplier.
Altrafine Gums is absolutely authentic export oriented unit that manufactures and supplies cassia gum and its derivatives. Altrafine adheres all the regulations, maintain hygienic infrastructure and have huge production capacity that helps in consistent supply of qualitative cassia gum and have active research and development department.

Altrafine gums are in this industry since more than 36 years and have been awarded Gujarat, INDIA’s biggest exporter.

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Cassia Gum is Safe for use as Feed Additives in Cats and Dogs

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Ajit Patel

Safety Aspects in Cassia Gum as a Feed Additive in Dogs and Cats

Cassia gum is a food additive produced from endosperm of Senna obtusifolia is also known as cassia tora. It is widely demanded and used as food additives in pet food industry. Today, companies are considering cassia gum significantly in their products as food additives in pet food like food for dogs and cats.
It is used as a gelling agent like stabilizer or thickening agent. Cassia gum has varied applications like stabilization, emulsification, and for retaining moisture and more. Usage of cassia gum for cat and dog food includes wet/ canned food, semi- moist food, and dry food.

Brief of de- husking Cassia Tora Gum Seeds

Here, brief explanation is given on the splitting procedure of cassia tora gum seeds. These seeds are heated for some time as husk and germs are sensitive towards the heat and they become fragile, yet the split remains intact. Mechanical stress grind these husks and germs and are separated.

Manufacturers of Cassia Gum cleans the material due to which naturally occurring contamination is reduced. Cassia gum manufacturer also de-husk and de-germ the material by thermal mechanical treatment followed by milling and screening endosperm.

Further these splits are manually cleaned from the germs that are still stuck. This is briefing of the process although it contains quite a long methodology to clean and make it completely safe.

Research Conclusion

Various research is taking place to make sure that cassia gum is safe for feed additives in dogs and cats food.

The research done turned out to be acceptable as positive findings were observed in mutation test for bacteria with semi refined cassia gum.
Extensive test was done for 90 days in dogs and cats by providing them diet containing cassia gum.

It has been concluded that semi-refined purified cassia gum sets in the frame of cassia tora gum used as food additives which is considered safe to use in food for pets like dogs and cats.

Global Market Demand

According to the latest market report, cassia gum market is expected to increase and expand. There are certain key macro- economic signals and measures that are directly impacting and influencing consumption of cassia gum globally.

Basically, cassia gum was used as a substitute and an alternative of guar gum as there was limited research done. Now gradually, awareness is increasing so does the research and development activities are taking place.

Nevertheless, once regulation approves the usage of cassia gum all over the world, its demand would increase globally. The use and application of cassia gum is targeted to pet food industry like dog and cat food, and also animal feed. This also includes various other food areas like baby food, dairy and many more.
It is important to adhere guidelines and standards crucially to supply and use cassia gum in any form, be the buyer is national or international. India considered to be the major producer of cassia gum and major contributor of the supplier.

Market of Cassia gum has been forecasted for high growth in the manufacturing industry which is segmented into cosmetics, paper, textile, chemical processing and more.

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Issues That Have Hindered the Full Utilization of Cassia Gum Powder in Industry

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Ajit Patel

The cassia gum is well suited for usage in the manufacture of gels mostly in combination with other colloids and it is generally accepted for usage in the food industry. Further functional effects include thickening, emulsification, foam stabilization, moisture retention and texture improvement.

Toxicity
Through a wide range of toxicological studies, it has been demonstrated that the product is not toxic to animals. These studies include sub chronic, reproductive, teratogenic and genetic toxicity studies.

Presence of Anthraquinones
The presence of anthraquinones has also been a subject of discussion and a limitation to the utilization of the cassia gum powder in certain food and feed formulations. Some theories have stated that certain anthraquinones have been found to be present in animal products. These are bound to the sugars in form of glycosides, with the glycon occurring in the reduced form such as the diathrones or the oxanthrone. Despite this, only one type of anthraquinone has been detected in the cassia gum powder. Several risk assessments done on the level of carcinogenicity have however concluded that the level of risk is very low compared various other natural ingredients.

According to some research, there has been a level of muscle toxicity associated with the components of cassia obtusifolia, although the cassia Occidentalis appears to be more toxic when present in the mixture. Active steps must therefore be taken to ensure that the cassia gum does not contain harmful levels of muscle toxins resulting from the presence of harmful levels Cassia Obtusifolia among the seeds.

Macroeconomic Indicators
There are certain indicators that directly influence the global cassia gum usage. These are related to growth in markets such as the dairy ingredients usage, confectionaries market, pet food market and usage in the manufacturing industry.

Supply Challenges
With the production of cassia gum being largely done under natural and rain fed conditions, the production capacity is limited to presence of favorable weather conditions and when these are not met, then the availability of the product is limited.

Research and Development
With the cassia gum exhibiting similar characteristics to other hydrocolloids, it would have been expected for the powder to compete at the same level with others such as the guar gum. However, this has not been the case. There has been limited research and marketing information to create a sufficient demand pull for the cassia powder. Heavy industrial consumers for the hydrocolloids such as in the shale exploration still opt for other types of hydrocolloids.

Standard Processing Method
In the major producers such as China and India, there has been a pronounced absence of rules and regulations that address the productions and processing phases. This has an effect on the final quality of product reaching the market. This has had an impact in the marketability and usage of cassia gum.

With regulations and approvals in various countries around the world and innovations in the cassia gum formulations, there is likely to be more awareness in the potential of the cassia gum powder for industrial usage.

Currently, companies are increasingly utilizing the cassia gum powder in new products mainly in pet food, baby food and production of confectionaries.

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Advances in Food Biochemistry Put Cassia Gum in the Front Line

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Ajit Patel

The cassia gum is purified flour from the seed endosperm of cassia tora and the cassia obtusifolia, which are plants of the leguminosae family. 75% of the powder chemically contains high molecular weight polysaccharides with mannopyrannose units linked with galactopyrannose units. These make it exhibit excellent properties of a hydrocolloid.

The manufacturing process is a series of steps involving the cleaning of the source material, removal of impurities, milling and further refining with isopropanol to have a final purified product.

Characterization of the Cassia Gum
The final refined cassia gum is significantly different from the other galactomanans in that it has fewer galactose molecules next to the long mannose chain. This creates a significant effect on the synergy of the food grade cassia gum with other anionic food gums such as carrageenan or Xanthan gums.

Scientific research has shown that a high number of galactose side chains hinder proper synergistic gelling effects with anionic polymers. To counter this effect, a smaller amount of hydrocolloid blend with cassia gum is required for a similar effect to be achieved in the food product as with carrageenan alone or blends of carrageenan and other hydrocolloids.

Reaction of the Cassia Gum in Foods

In regards to the chemical structure of the gum, it is stable during food processing and storage. The product only degrades into sugars, but this happens rarely. Scientific research on degradation of the cassia gum in food products shows that it is stable without chemical modifications for over 20 months. When the gum is used at the recommended levels in food, it has been seen to have no interaction with nutrients. There is no other seen by products of the degradation process of the gum apart from sugar formation.

Usage Levels of Cassia Gum in Foods

In cheeses, such as curd, whey, cream, processed spread, dip and other miscellaneous cheeses, it is used at a maximum level of 3 mg/kg as an emulsifier, stabilizer, thickening agent and water retention agent in these formulations.

In the frozen dairy desserts and mixes, the gum powder is used at a level of 2.5 mg/kg as an emulsifier and stabilizer to control over run. These products include ice creams, ice milks and sherbets.

In the meat products and meat formulations and dishes, it is used at a level of 3.5 mg/kg as a stabilizer, emulsifier and water retaining agent. These include multi coarse meat meals, sandwich ingredients and commercially processed meat ingredients.

In poultry products it is also used at a level of 3.5mg/kg as a stabilizer and water retaining agent. These include all poultry containing dishes frozen products and sandwiches.

Bottom Line

Continued research on the cassia gum powder uses and applications has led to the conclusion that the gum can be equally used as replacement to other hydrocolloids and in some cases it is more effective. Research has also proven that the gum is effective when combined with other hydrocolloids such as the carrageenan and the xanthan gum. In addition to human food additives, it can also be used in the manufacturing of pet foods.

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Hindrances to the Expansion of Cassia Gum Market versus Other Hydrocolloids

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Ajit Patel

Hydrocolloids are substances that form a gel in water. They are comprised of heterogeneous groups of biopolymers, which rapidly form viscous dispersions when introduced in water. These substances play very important roles in various industries. They are mostly used as thickening and gelling agents. Natural hydrocolloids used as thickening agents include; starch, Xanthan gum, guar gum, gum Arabic and the locust bean gum. Those used as gelling agents include the carrageenan, cassia gum, alginate, gelatin and agar. They are also used as food stabilizers.

The Cassia Gum

The cassia gum exhibits properties similar to other hydrocolloids and is used as a stabilizer in foods, emulsification, enhancing moisture retention, improvement of texture and in the beverage industry.

Despite of this, it has not been widely to the same extent as the other hydrocolloids. Some of factors affecting its usage include;

Growth in dairy foods industry
Slower growth in the pet foods market
Limited research on the product
Limited awareness on the product

Market Forecast

The average growth rate of the Cassis gum is expected to be moderate between the year2016/2017. There is currently increasing awareness on the presence of cassia gum which functions equally well as the other hydrocolloids, and also equally affordable.

Cassia Gum Powder

Regulations

The regulatory bodies in various countries have also approved the usage of cassia gum powder and related formulations for use in industries such as in dairy, pet foods and confectionaries. This is expected to cause a gradual upward trend in the sales and demand of the product.

Quality Standards

The cassia gum is largely produced in China and India where there are favorable weather conditions for production. A closer look at these areas and it is worthy to note there are no quality standards that guide the production and processing of cassia. Lack of these standards has meant consistently poor quality being produced and exported, thus creating a barrier in market expansion.

Production Barriers

Rain Fed production of the cassia gum in the Indian subcontinent has also been a factor affecting the overall production. Decline in the levels of the monsoon rains have a direct effect on the production volumes and may create a supply shortage.

Industrial Uses

According to reliable market research, cassia gum main markets are the animal food industry being the major consumers, Dairy and confectioneries and meat processing. It is also used in cosmetics, pharmaceutical, paper and chemical processing and to an extent in mining. When compared to the guar, the major demand driver is the oil and shale gas exploration sectors which consumes vast amounts compared to the animal food industry. This has widened the gap in market levels of the cassia gum.

Conclusion

Despite the imbalance in usage of cassia in different industries, there is growing awareness of the availability of cassia gum as a viable alternative to other hydrocolloids. Demand in the cosmetic industry is expected to rise by over 48% by the year 2025, driven by the hair care subsector. The main consumer region is expected to be North America.

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Scientific Analysis on the Efficacy of Cassia Gum Powder

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Ajit Patel

The usage of the cassia gum as a food additive is described in the EC regulation Number 231/2012, which defines the specifications of food additives. The gum is the purified seed endosperm from the Cassia Tora plant and has less than 0.05 of Cassia Occidentalis. The chemical formula consists of a high molecular weight polysaccharides made up of mannopyranose and galactopyrannoseunits.

Manufacturing of the Cassia Gum

It is manufactured through a milling process, whereby the husks are removed from the seed and endosperm is washed to give a semi-finished product that is used as a feed additive. Further purification with isopropanol extraction results in a pure semi refined product that is used as the food additive.

Characterization of the Cassia Gum

Physical properties

An analysis of the particle size distribution throughthe laser diffraction process showed that the cassia gum powder has at least 14.7% of the particles less than 50 micrometers in diameter and 2.8 % of particles less than 10 Micrometers in diameter.

Stability and homogeneity

The determination of the stability of the gum is derived by establishing the ability to maintain the gel form, after being combined with the other gums. It has been noted that when the cassia gum is mixed with the other gums for optimum gelling, a stable gel is sustained even after long periods of storage. There are also no changes in the strength of the gel. In the manufacture of feed, it has been passed as an effective and safe gelling agent. The Gum is soluble in water and is distributed with water into the feedstuff.

Cassia Gum Powder

Efficacy of the Cassia Gum

The efficacy of a product is the ability or the capacity to produce the desired effect, or the effectiveness in achieving the desired purpose.

Gelling Agent

As a gelling agent, it has been found that supplementing water with blends of cassia gum and carrageenan gums results in high gel strength of up to 1100g/cm ².The gelling strength values, syneresis and the PH values of canned pet food with cassia gum and carrageen were measured after storage for 12 weeks . The food showed no losses in the gel strength over a period of time.

Thickener

As a thickener, tests have shown that the mixture of cassia with carrageen generates a greater viscosity then when carrageen is applied alone. This blend of cassia and carrageen produces a viscosity of approximately 900 mPa’s while, when the carrageenan is applied alone only gives a viscosity of 500 mPa’s

Emulsifier and Stabilizer

When 0.1 % cassia tora powder is added to water and oil mixture, and 0.5% commercial emulsifier, a stable emulsion resulted that lasted up to 12 hours. This did not happen when the mixture containing the 0.5% emulsifier alone was used.

Conclusion

The cassia gum is best used as a gelling agent when used together with other gelling agents such as the carrageenan and the Xanthan gum. It is also effective as a thickener when used with other gums like the carrageenan and the Xanthan gum. This research also showed that the cassia gum has good stabilizing effects of an emulsifier.

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