CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES OF GEL-FORMING SUBSTANCES IN WATER EXTRACT FROM AIGYOKUSHI SEEDS

To clarify the characteristic properties of gel forming substances in slime extracted from ''Aigyokushi'' seeds with water, some chemical ch anges of the main gel forming substances in the slime during standing at room temperature after extraction were studied. (1) Measurements of the contents of methoxyl group, galacturonic acid and calcium ion sho wed that the gel forming substances were mainly consisted of low metho xyl pectin, and the maximum concentration of calcium ion in the gel wa s obtained at 15 min after the extraction was completed. (2) Immediate ly after extraction, pH value of the slime was 4.6, while the value de creased as the standing time increased, and finally reached to 4.07 af ter stood for 2 hours. (3) The gel forming substances extracted from d ry-heated ''Aigyokushi'' seeds with hot water was mainly consisted of high methoxyl pectin. (4) When added with a detergent, such as sodium laurylsulfate, the slime obtained from raw seeds showed no gelation.