Locust Bean Gum, a Vegetable Hydrocolloid with Industrial and Biopharmaceutical Applications
Max Petitjean, José Ramón Isasi
Molecules
Abstract
Locust bean gum (LBG), a vegetable galactomannan extracted from carob tree seeds, is extensively used in the food industry as a thickening agent (E410). Its molecular conformation in aqueous solutions determines its solubility and rheological performance. LBG is an interesting polysaccharide also because of its synergistic behavior with other biopolymers (xanthan gum, carrageenan, etc.). In addition, this hydrocolloid is easily modified by derivatization or crosslinking. These LBG-related products, besides their applications in the food industry, can be used as encapsulation and drug delivery devices, packaging materials, batteries, and catalyst supports, among other biopharmaceutical and industrial uses. As the new derivatized or crosslinked polymers based on LBG are mainly biodegradable and non-toxic, the use of this polysaccharide (by itself or combined with other biopolymers) will contribute to generating greener products, considering the origin of raw materials used, the modification procedures selected and the final destination of the products.
Extracted Claims
5 claims extracted from this paper into the knowledge graph
Locust bean gum (LBG) affects solubility and rheological performance
“Its molecular conformation in aqueous solutions determines its solubility and rheological performance.”
Locust bean gum (LBG) can be modified by derivatization or crosslinking
“In addition, this hydrocolloid is easily modified by derivatization or crosslinking.”
Locust bean gum (LBG) contributes to generating greener products
“As the new derivatized or crosslinked polymers based on LBG are mainly biodegradable and non-toxic, the use of this polysaccharide (by itself or combined with other biopolymers) will contribute to gen...”