DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2014.v02i11.007

Pages: 773-777

Ipin gum (Ficus elastica exudate gum) is exudate gum from a plant growing naturally in the forest of Nigeria. The gum is yet to be commercially exploited as the physicochemical properties of this gum are yet to be characterized. Various physicochemical methods, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X–ray diffraction spectrometry (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FITR) were employed to characterize this gum in the present study. SEM analysis suggested that the native gum has irregular particle size. The XRD pattern of the native gum indicates a completely amorphous structure. Elemental analysis of the gum shows potassium,600.0±1.52mg/g, sodium 300.23±0.2mg/g, manganese 0.31±0.00mg/g, magnesium 410.33±1.0mg/g, Iron 8.7±0.00mg/g and zinc 61.1±0.22mg/g. Physicochemical parameters shows moisture content to be 7.68±0.15%, Ash content 2.70±0.30%, Protein content 2.08±0.02%, pH 5.5±0.10, Viscosity 22.10±0.50, Refractive index 1.34±0.01, Water holding capacity 84.90±4.25%, specific rotation -25.4±0.4 degree, swelling index 9.50±1.10% and Emulsifying capacity 17.29±0.20cm-1. These results compared favourably with acacia senegal gum (gum arabic) and makes ficus elastica exudate gum highly recommendable for use in food and pharmaceutical industries.The major functional groups identified from FTIR spectrum include 3641cm-1 (OH), 1731cm-1 (CH3CO), 1632cm -1 (-COO-), 1429cm-1 (-COO-) and 1249cm-1 (-CH3CO).