Gum exudates from plants located in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

It was carried out a census of plants located in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela, in order to know the ability to produce gum . There were chosen 56 species belong to 26 different families of high plants. The gum samples from species studied were collected during no rainy season (November-April, 1984-1994), after two weeks of an incision made at the trunk level. The study showed that 17 species belong to eight different families produced gum. The highest yields of the gum were observed from the species Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Pithecellobium saman, Anacardium occidentale, Albizia lebbeck and Laguncularia racemosa. The yield, solubility in water and intrinsic viscosity of the gum from some species are interesting charcteristics which may be useful for industrial application.

Key words: Gum exudate, hydrocolloids, Mimosaceae, Anacardiaceae, Combretaceae.