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A water-soluble polysaccharide extracted from timber of the western larch trees.
Galactoarabinan is a complex, highly branched polymer of arabinose and galactose.
Dietary fiber that enhances immune system function by stimulating natural killer (NK) cell activity.
CAS: 9036-66-2
MF: C20H36O14
MW: 500.49144
EINECS: 232-910-0
Synonyms
STRACTAN;POLYARABINOGALACTAN;Galactoarabinan;d-galacto-l-arabinan;FEMA 3254;LARCOLL(TM);(+)-ARABINOGALACTAN;ARABINOGALACTAN
Galactoarabinan is a compelx polysaccharide composed of the sugars galactose and arabinose, hence this ingredient’s name.
Galactoarabinan’s a versatile skin care ingredient whose film-forming properties help prevent water loss.
Along with hydration, Galactoarabinan also boosts the exfoliation benefits of alpha hydroxy acids such as lactic acid, and helps improves formula stability and spread.
Derived from the North American larch tree, Galactoarabinan also has skin-soothing properties clinically proven to reduce signs of erythema—a fancy word for redness.
Other research has shown that a mix of polysaccharides, including galactoarabinan, improves skin’s ability to tolerate retinol.
The film Galactoarabinan forms on skin is capable of reducing penetration of airborne pollutants, thus helping to protect skin from this type of environmental damage.
Standard usage levels of Galactoarabinan in skin care range from 0.6–5%, depending on formulary goals.
Galactoarabinan is considered safe as used in cosmetics.
Galactoarabinan is a highly functional natural polysaccharide extracted from North American Larch trees that have already been harvested.
Galactoarabinan is a natural polymer linked with sugar units consisting of galactose and arabinose in a 6:1 ratio respectively.
Galactoarabinan has a synthetic-like consistency with a narrowly peaked molecular weight distribution and high intrinsic purity.
Its many unique properties and benefits make Galactoarabinan useful in a wide variety of personal care applications.
In cosmetics, Galactoarabinan helps to reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and provide long lasting moisturization.
Galactoarabinan has been shown in in vivo studies to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
With its film forming abilities, Galactoarabinan can be useful in skin tightening formulas.
Galactoarabinan reduces emulsion particle size which enhances emulsion uniformity and promotes stability, while adding minimal contribution to the viscosity of a formulation.
Galactoarabinan also has minimal interference with the formulation pH, salt content, ionic species, as well as shear.
By reducing droplet size and improving aqueous dispersion of pigments and particulate materials, Galactoarabinan acts as a natural SPF enhancer for sunscreens.
Galactoarabinan is very soluble in water and proportionally soluble in many solvents.
Galactoarabinan has a molecular weight of ~ 20,000 Daltons.
Galactoarabinan is an environmentally friendly and readily biodegradable ingredient.
Galactoarabinan acts as a moisturizing agent.
Galactoarabinan is a highly functional natural polymer linked with sugar units consisting of galactose and arabinose in the ratio of 6:1, respectively.
Galactoarabinan imparts multi-functionality to water-based systems.
Galactoarabinan is a mild, non-irritating and water-dispersible polymer which can enhance emulsion stability, reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and provides moisture benefits in formulations.
Galactoarabinan may help to improve appearance of skin’s superficial fine lines, imparts film-forming properties and helps improve formulation uniformity which may ultimately enable SPF enhancement.
Used in sun care and skin moisturizing formulations.
Larch arabinogalactan is extracted from the heartwood of the western larch Larix occidentalis.
Galactoarabinan has a backbone of 1,3-linked β-D-galactopyranosyl units each of which contains a side chain at position C-6.
Arabinogalactans are used as emulsifiers, stabilizers and binders in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, as low viscosity dietary fibres and as a prebiotic fibres.
Galactoarabinan Chemical Properties
Melting point: >200 °C (dec.)(lit.)
FEMA: 3254 | ARABINOGALACTAN
Refractive index: 10 ° (C=1, H2O)
Storage temp.: 2-8°C
Solubility: H2O: 50 mg/mL, clear to slightly hazy, faintly yellow
Form: lyophilized powder
Color: White to Pale Beige
Odor: at 100.00 %. very mild balsam pine resin
Odor Type: balsamic
Biological source:larch wood
Water Solubility: H2O: 50mg/mL, clear to slightly turbid, colorless to slightly brownish-yellow
InChI:InChI=1S/C20H36O14/c1-7-11(23)18(12(24)9(4-21)32-7)34-20-15(27)17(29-3)13(25)10(33-20)6-31-19-14(26)16(28-2)8(22)5-30-19/h7-27H,4-6H2,1-3H3
InChIKey: SATHPVQTSSUFFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N
CAS DataBase Reference: 9036-66-2
EPA Substance Registry System:Galactoarabinan (9036-66-2)
Galactoarabinan possesses a soft, balsamic terpenic odor, reminiscent of fresh conifer resins and cones.
Galactoarabinan is a turpentine type of a natural oleoresin.
Galactoarabinan occurs as a physiological secretion in the larch tree, Larix decidua, a conifer.
Dry, light-tan powder.
Readily soluble in hot and cold water; both powder and solutions fairly stable.
Benefits:
Moisturizes skin and scalp
Improves appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Reduces emulsion particle size to enhance emulsion uniformity
Promoted emulsion stability
Enhances SPF in sunscreens
Uses
Galactoarabinan is a multi-functional ingredient with humectant and exfoliating properties.
In aqueous solutions, Galactoarabinan can deposit a clear film, creating or helping to create an occlusive environment, preventing transepidermal water loss and enhancing the functionality of a formulation’s active ingredients.
In humid conditions Galactoarabinan acts as a moisture binder, and in dry conditions, it is able to retain moisture, further inhibiting moisture loss from the skin.
Additionally, Galactoarabinan can improve particle dispersion and the uniformity of emulsion droplets resulting in a more stable emulsion and potentially more efficacious formulation, particularly in the case of sunscreens.
In vitro and in vivo studies indicate possible benefit to the immune system given an ability to enhance Langerhans cell proliferation and cytokine production.
Galactoarabinan has been shown to boost AHA exfoliation activity without increasing skin irritation, and it also exhibits its own exfoliant properties independent of AHA presence in a formulation, thereby helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Galactoarabinan is a polysaccharide found in all plants and is the dominant sugar of the western larch tree.
Galactoarabinan is a gum, being the plant extract obtained from larch trees.
Galactoarabinan is soluble in hot and cold water, the water solutions up to 60% being fluid and above 60% forming a thick paste.
Galactoarabinan is stable over a wide ph range and is relatively unaffected by electrolytes.
Galactoarabinan's limited uses include dressings and pudding mixes.
Galactoarabinan is also termed larch gum.
Preparation
Natural turpentine is obtained from tapping or scraping the wounds on a variety of coniferous trees.
Separating the essential oil and solid content of crude turpentine makes pure gum spirits.
The crude gum is heated, refined and separated by distillation into gum spirits and rosin.
