*3.3.1 Chemical composition*

Gum Kondagogu (Cochlospermumgossypium) maybe a tree exudate gum that belongs to the family Bixaceae. Compositional analysis of the gum by HPLC and LC-MS revealed uronic acids to be the key component of the polymer (∼26 mol%). Furthermore, analysis of the gum by GC-MS indicated the presence of sugars like arabinose (2.52 mol%), mannose (8.30 mol%), α-d-glucose (2.48 mol%), β-d-glucose (2.52 mol%), rhamnose (12.85 mol%), galactose (18.95 mol%), d-glucuronic acid (19.26 mol%), β-d-galactouronic acid (13.22 mol%), and α-d-galacturonic acid (11.22 mol%). The viscoelastic behavior of gum Kondagogu solutions (1 and 2%) in aqueous as well as in 100 mM NaCl solution shows a unique gel-like system, making it suitable for being used as a drug carrier [19].
