Structural elucidation, modification and characterization of seed gum from Cassia javahikai seeds: A non-traditional source of industrial gums.

A water-soluble seed gum was isolated from seed endosperm of Cassia javahikai. The acid-catalyzed fragmentation, methylation, selective enzymatic degradation and periodate oxidation suggested a heteropolymeric structure for the polysaccharide. The polysaccharide was shown to have a linear chain of beta(1-->4) linked d-mannopyranosyls units with side chains of alpha(1-->6) d-galactopyranosyl units. Grafting of polyacrylamide onto the gum was performed using K(2)S(2)O(8)/ascorbic acid redox system in presence of Ag(+) as catalyst at 35+/-2 degrees C. The viscosity of the gum solution increased on grafting and the grafted gum was observed to resist biodegradation for more than 256h. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that grafted gum was more thermally stable than native gum.