Foaming Fractionation and Physicochemical Characterization of Azadrakhta indicia Gum

Abstract

In this research from Azadirachta Indica (Wild) , neem gum was fractionated by foaming method into two fractions, high protein fraction (HPF) that represents 65% of the weight gum and a low protein fraction (LPF) which represents 35% of the gum. A comparative study between the crude gum and the two fractions was conducted in the scope of their physiochemical properties. Proximate analysis of the crude gum and fractions HPF and LPF respectively revealed that, the moisture content 7.56 and 7.54, ash% 8.41and 8.31 .The nitrogen 1.41 and 1.31and the protein content 2.85, 0.91 ,specific rotation +57.8and +55.8, the pH 4.5 and 4.3, equivalent weight and molecular weight of the neem gum in two fractions HPF and LPF respectively revealed that (equivalent weight = 4.87 x 105 and 4.57 x 105; molecular weight = 7.31 x 105 and 7.01 x 105 were insignificantly different. However the intrinsic viscosity of the Fraction was 17.6 and 6.6 cm-3/g were highly significantly different.