Katira contains water, minerals, starch and two active ingredients namely, terakagantin and basurin.
Chemical composition of Katira
Katira contains 10-15% water, 3-4% minerals and 3% starch. Katira gum is odorless and 60-70% of which is no soluble in water, but it turns to sticky mucilage like compound through water absorption and starch particles are visible within it.
2 types of active ingredients are present in Katira:
- Teragakantin: It is comprised of oronic acid which is attached to multiple arabinose molecules.
- Basurin: This compound is no soluble in water and especially cold water and is comprised of galactronic acid bond with galactose and xylose carbohydrates.
Katira from chemical point of view is a complex of few polysaccharides and a high molecular weight of over 800000.
Therapeutic information of Katira
Contains a high amount of water soluble polysaccharide (40%) and non-soluble (60%). This composition gives it a laxative effect and enhances intestine activities.
