EXTRACTION AND STUDYING OF SOME PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPRETIES OF FENUGREEK GUM

Abstract

The gum of defatted fenugreek seed powder was extracted by 95% ethanol, and characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. The residual chemical compounds in gum and some of its physiochemical properties were evaluated. The yield of gum was 15.8 % (W/W) on dry weight. The gum is yellow – brown in color and converts to clear viscous liquid when dissolved in water with pH 7.3. The residuals in gum were protein 22%, fiber 0.96 %, fat 0.04 %, Ash 0.64%, moisture 8 % and residual gum was polysaccharides (galactomanan) (68.36%). The solubility of fenugreek gum was lower than guar gum (58.3%, 100%, respectively). The refractive index of fenugreek and guar gum were 1.334, 1.3345 respectively. The density of fenugreek and guar gum were 1.0095, 1.0083 g/cm3, respectively. The viscosity of fenugreek gum was lower as compared with guar gum ( 70.63 mp, 550.12mp, respectively). The molecular weight of fenugreek gum was lower (8.70 × 105 Dalton) than guar gum (91.45 × 105 Dalton).The fenugreek gum FTIR spectroscopy was varied from guar gum. Fenugreek gum showed maximum absorption which was at 330 nm whereas it was 290 nm for guar gum. There were variations in the capability of fat binding for gums of different source and also affected the source of oil. Fenugreek gum showed high binding capacity with castor oil (261.2%) and the least with sunflower oil (164.2%).Guar gum showed high fat binding capacity than fenugreek gum, the highest with castor oil 492.7% and the least with coconut oil 162.9% .