Modified gum arabic

Abstract

The present invention provides a water-soluble modified gum arabic with a weight average molecular weight not less than 0.9 million and arabinogalactan protein not less than 17% by weight obtained by heating Acacia senegal gum arabic and modified water-soluble gum arabic with a weight average molecular weight not less than 2.5 million and with protein containing high molecular weight components of not less than 25% by weight. Moreover, the present invention provides modified gum arabic with standardized and predictable molecular properties and methods for providing the modified gum arabic endowed with high emulsification efficiency and stability and for uniforming natural variations in unmodified gum arabic. The present invention changes the natural protein distribution of gum arabic, and increases AGP content.

1 . Water-soluble modified gum arabic having a weight average molecular weight of not less than 2.5 million obtained by heating gum arabic from  Acacia seyal.    
   
   
       2 . Water-soluble modified gum arabic having a protein-containing a high molecular weight component content of not less than 25 weight % obtained by heating gum arabic from  Acacia seyal.    
   
   
       3 . Water-soluble modified gum arabic having a weight average molecular weight of not less than 1.5 million and a protein-containing high molecular weight component content of not less than 22 weight % obtained by heating gum arabic from  Acacia seyal.    
   
   
       4 . Water-soluble modified gum arabic according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the difference in the degree of immunological inhibition is within +0.10% between the water soluble modified gum arabic and the unmodified gum arabic from  Acacia seyal  as measured by indirect competitive ELISA using a quantifiable antibody for gum arabic. 
   
   
       5 . Water-soluble modified gum arabic according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , obtained by heating gum arabic from  Acacia seyal  at 110° C. for not less than 10 hours or under conditions capable of obtaining substantially same effect. 
   
   
       6 . A method for manufacturing the modified gum arabic of any one of  claims 1  to  3 , comprising heating gum arabic from  Acacia seyal  at 110° C. for not less than 10 hours or under conditions capable of obtaining substantially the same effect. 
   
   
       7 . An emulsifier comprising the modified gum arabic of any one of  claims 1 ,  2  and  3  as an active component. 
   
   
       8 . An emulsifier comprising the modified gum arabic as an active component and having a protein distribution different from that of natural gum arabic from  Acacia seyal  and a higher arabinogalactan protein content than that of natural gum arabic from  Acacia seyal.    
   
   
       9 . An emulsion, obtained by dispersing and stabilizing a hydrophobic substance in a hydrophilic solvent using the emulsifier of  claim 7 . 
   
   
       10 . The emulsion according to  claim 9 , which is an O/W emulsion or a W/O/W emulsion. 
   
   
       11 . The emulsion according to  claim 9 , wherein the hydrophobic substance is an edible hydrophobic substance. 
   
   
       12 . The emulsion according to  claim 9 , wherein the hydrophobic substance is at least one member selected from the group consisting of essential oils, oleoresins, absolutes, oil-based flavorings, oil-based colorants, oil-soluble vitamins, C 18 -C 22  polybasic unsaturated fatty acids, animal and vegetable fats and oils, SAIB and C 6 -C 12  fatty acid triglycerides. 
   
   
       13 . A method for preparing an emulsion comprising dispersing a hydrophobic substance in a hydrophilic solvent using an emulsifier according to  claim 7 . 
   
   
       14 . A thickener, coating agent, binder and material for capsules comprising the modified gum arabic according to any one of  claims 1 ,  2  and  3  as an active component. 
   
   
       15 . A method of preparing an emulsifier using the modified gum arabic according to any one of  claims 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
   
   
       16 . A method of preparing an emulsion using the modified gum arabic according to any one of  claims 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
   
   
       17 . A method of preparing a thickener, coating agent, binder and material for capsules using the modified gum arabic according to any one of  claims 1 ,  2  and  3 .