The gum exudates from Anacardium occidentale, Spondias purpurea and Sp
ondias mombin are very soluble in water. Analytical data for a Venezue
lan gum sample of A. occidentale showed that the intrinsic viscosity l
imit is lower than those reported for the Papuan and Indian gum exudat
es. On the other hand, the galactose/arabinose ratio (1:6) appears low
er than that reported (4:3). The gums studied contained galactose, ara
binose, mannose, xylose and rhamnose. Xylose was not evidenced in S. m
ombin. The cationic composition of the ash of Anacardiaceae gums studi
ed have high calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium contents. C-13-N
MR spectral studies are according with the chemical results. The reson
ances attributed to galactose and uronic acids are inequivocally assig
ned. There are evidences of arabinofuranose residues as structural fea
tures of the Spondias gums.