Mesquite gum (Prosopis gum): Structure, properties & applications - A review

Mesquite gum (Prosopis gum) is an exudate gum obtained from mesquite tree (Prosopis sp.). Main constituents of this gum are D-galactose & L-arabinose along with trace amount of D-mannose, D-glucuronate & D-xylose. It also contains protein in its chemical structure. Chemically, it is similar to gum arabic which makes it a competent substitute of gum arabic for various applications. Viscosity values of mesquite gum solution are somewhat lower than gum arabic which opens door for its application as dietary fiber in various food products which is an untouched territory. Mesquite gum has several functional properties which makes it a functional hydrocolloid. It has appreciable emulsifying and encapsulation capacity for various food components. Another application of mesquite gum is its use as drying aid in foam mat drying of fruits. It is also a potential film forming agent and used for extending shelf life of fruits. In pharmaceutical industry, it is used as tablet binder and stabilizer in suspensions. All these functional properties and applications of mesquite gum suggest that it is an underutilized functional gum. This paper discusses the production, collection, composition, processing, properties and applications of mesquite gum.