Xanthan Gum

Synonyms: Corn sugar gum; E415; Grindsted; Keldent; Keltrol; polysaccharide B-1459; Rhodicare S; Rhodigel; Vanzan NF; xanthani gummi; Xantural.

Description: Xanthan gum occurs as a cream- or white-colored, odorless, freeflowing, fine powder.

Chemical Name: Xanthan gum

Gelling agent; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; sustained-release agent; viscosity-increasing agent.

• Xanthan gum is widely used in oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations, cosmetics, and foods as a suspending and stabilizing agent.

• It is also used as a thickening and emulsifying agent.

• It is nontoxic, compatible with most other pharmaceutical ingredients, and has good stability and viscosity properties over a wide pH and temperature range.

• Xanthan gum gels show pseudoplastic behavior, the shear thinning being directly proportional to the shear rate.

• The viscosity returns to normal immediately on release of shear stress. Xanthan gum has been used as a suspending agent for conventional, dry and sustained-release suspensions.

• When xanthan gum is mixed with certain inorganic suspending agents, such as magnesium aluminum silicate, or organic gums, synergistic rheological effects occur.

• In general, mixtures of xanthan gum and magnesium aluminum silicate in ratios between 1 : 2 and 1 : 9 produce the optimum properties.

• Similarly, optimum synergistic effects are obtained with xanthan gum : guar gum ratios between 3 : 7 and 1 : 9.

Xanthan gum is an anionic material and is not usually compatible with cationic surfactants, polymers, or preservatives, as precipitation occurs. Anionic and amphoteric surfactants at concentrations above 15% w/v cause precipitation of xanthan gum from a solution

Xanthan gum is widely used in oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations, cosmetics, and food products, and is generally regarded as nontoxic and nonirritant at the levels employed as a pharmaceutical excipient.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Eye protection and gloves are recommended.

Ceratonia; guar gum.