Extraction and characterization of mucilage in Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.

The aim of this study was to characterize the mucilage from jujube. Extraction conditions of the highest mucilage yield can derive from the following process: incubating jujube for 9 days, mixing jujube pulp with water in ratio of 1:7 at water temperature of 60°C, and precipitating the mucilage solution with ethanol in ratio of 1:3. Functional properties analysis of mucilage powder showed that it had brightness in similar value with xanthan gum but higher than guar gum. Water holding capacity was 11.77 g dry weight. The values of oil absorption were 9 and 6 times higher than guar gum and xanthan gum, respectively. Emulsion capacity was analogous to that of guar gum but less than xanthan gum. Rheological properties of mucilage solution exhibited pseudoplastic as same as guar gum. This research also examined that higher concentration of mucilage solution caused larger values of viscosity, but increasing the pH and temperature led to the decrease of viscosity.