Karaya gum

Karaya gum (CAS 9000-36-6), also known as Sterculia gum and approved as E416, is a natural exudate polysaccharide sourced primarily from Sterculia urens trees in India.

Where is Karaya gum used?

• Food: stabilizer in ice cream, salad dressings and processed meats, controlling texture and preventing syneresis
• Pharmaceutical: bulk laxative base and tablet binder
• Medical: swelling capacity supports controlled-release and mucoadhesive dosage forms
• Personal care: denture adhesives, hair-setting lotions and skin creams, for moisture retention and film formation
• Textile and paper: sizing and finishing agent that improves fiber cohesion and surface quality
• It functions as a thickener, binder and stabilizer.

Good to know: Viscosity grades are a key purchasing parameter, with higher-viscosity lots commanding premium pricing.

Commercial specifications

• Off-white to pinkish-tan powder in various mesh sizes