Manilkara zapota (Linn.) Seeds: A Potential Source of Natural Gum

Abstract

Mucilage isolated from seeds of Manilkara zapota (Linn.) P. Royen syn. is a plant growing naturally in the forests of India. This mucilage is yet to be commercially exploited, and characterized as polymer. Various physicochemical methods like particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, gel permeation chromatography, X-ray diffraction spectrometry, zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy have been employed to characterize this gum in the present study. Particle size analyses suggest that mucilage has particle size in nanometer. Scanning electron microscopy analysis suggests that the mucilage has irregular particle size. The glass transition temperature of the gum was observed to be 138°C and 136°C by differential scanning calorimetry and differential thermal analysis, respectively. The thermogravimetric analysis suggested that mucilage had good thermal stability. The average molecular weight of mucilage was determined to be 379180, by gel permeation chromatography, while the viscosity of mucilage was observed to be 219.1 cP. The X-ray diffraction spectrometry pattern of the mucilage indicates a completely amorphous structure. Elemental analysis of the gum revealed the contents of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur to be 80.9 (%), 10.1 (%), 1.58 (%), and 512 (mg/kg), respectively. Mucilage had specific content of calcium, magnesium, potassium, lower concentrations of aluminum, cadmium, cobalt, lead, and nickel. The major functional groups identified from FT-IR spectrum include 3441 cm−1 (–OH), 1660 cm−1 (Alkenyl C–H & C=C Stretch), 1632 cm−1 (–COO–), 1414 cm−1 (–COO–), and 1219 cm−1 (–CH3CO). Analysis of mucilage by paper chromatography and 1D NMR, indicated the presence of rhamnose, xylose, arabinose, mannose, and fructose.

Nutritional and Spectral Characteristics of Terminalia Plants

“…The band at 1744 cm -1 , assigned to C=O (non-conjugated moieties vibrations) could be associated to the stretching vibration of the ester carbonyl functional groups of the triglycerides. The peak obtained at around 1636 cm −1 could be characteristic of C=C absorption cellulose when it is cross-linked and dehydrated, but it may also be assigned to amide N-H & C=O stretching from mucilage [32] or to an enrichment in unsaturated oils. The presence of this band, typical of the vinyl group, would justify the quantitative presence of unsaturated oils in the kernel of all the seeds under study.…”

Evaluation of the Phytochemical and Mineral Characteristics of Some Selected Sapotaceae Plants

“…The band at 1744 cm -1 , assigned to C=O (non-conjugated moieties vibrations), could be associated to the stretching vibration of the ester carbonyl functional groups of the triglycerides. The peak obtained at 1661-1634 cm −1 could be characteristic of C=C absorption cellulose when it is cross-linked and dehydrated, but may also be assigned to amide N-H & C=O stretching from mucilage [27] and to an enrichment in unsaturated oils. The presence of this band, typical of the vinyl group, justified the quantitative presence of unsaturated oils in the kernel of all the seeds under study.…”

Development of Mucoadhesive Tablet of Pentoxifylline Using a Natural Polymer From Manilkara Zapota Linn

“…Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities are also reported from the leaves of M. zapota [13,14]. A natural gum from the seeds of the plant was also isolated [15].…”