Gum tragacanth

An exudate from several species of shrubs of the genus Astragalus, especially Astragalus gummifer, found in the dry regions of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. The use of gum tragacanth dates from pre-Christian times. It used for textile sizing, printing, pastel crayon production, leather curing, furniture polishes, as an emulsifying, suspending, and thickening agent, pharmaceutically as a demulcent (coating) and as a binding agent in pill manufacture, and in processed foods.