TRAGACANTH

TRAGACANTH
TRAGACANTH (Heb. נְכֹאת, nekhot). The identification of tragacanth with nekhot is attested by its Arabic name Rathirā ʾ. It was included in spices carried by the caravan of Ishmaelites from Gilead on their journey to Egypt (Gen. 37:25), as well as in the gift sent by Jacob to the ruler of Egypt (43:11). It is the aromatic sap of a species of Astragalus which is called τραγακανδα in Greek. These are plants of the family Papilionaceae, short prickly shrubs which exude a sap when the roots or stalks are split open. Tens of species of Astragalus grow in Israel but these do not exude the nekhot. This is obtained from the species that grow in east Asia and the mountains of Syria and Lebanon. In former times it was used as incense but today it is used for medicinal purposes. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: Loew, Flora, 2 (1924), 419ff.; J. Feliks, Olam ha-Ẓome'aḥ ha-Mikra'i (19682), 274–5. (Jehuda Feliks)

Encyclopedia Judaica. 1971.

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  • Tragacanth — Trag a*canth, n. [L. tragacanthum tragacanth, tragacantha the plant producing tragacanth, Gr. ? ? a he goat + ? a thorn: cf. F. tragacanthe.] A kind of gum procured from a spiny leguminous shrub ({Astragalus gummifer}) of Western Asia, and other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tragacanth — [trag′ə kanth΄] n. [Fr tragacanthe < L tragacantha < Gr tragakantha < tragos, goat (see TRAGEDY) + akantha, thorn (see ACANTHO )] 1. a white or reddish, tasteless and odorless gum, used in pharmacy, calico printing, etc. 2. any of… …   English World dictionary

  • Tragacanth — thumb|right|250px|Astralagus gummiferTragacanth is a natural gum obtained from the dried sap of several species of Middle Eastern legumes of the genus Astragalus , including A. adscendens , A. gummifer , and A. tragacanthus . Some of these… …   Wikipedia

  • tragacanth — Dracanth Dra canth, n. A kind of gum; called also {gum tragacanth}, or {tragacanth}. See {Tragacanth}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tragacanth — kaučiukinė kulkšnė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pupinių šeimos vaistinis augalas (Astragalus gummifer), paplitęs vakarų Azijoje. Naudojamas maisto papildams gaminti, iš jo gaunami lipai. atitikmenys: lot. Astragalus gummifer angl. gum… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • tragacanth — trag·a·canth traj ə .kan(t)th, trag , kən(t)th;also trag ə .san(t)th n a gum obtained from various Asian or East European leguminous plants (genus Astragalus and esp. A. gummifer) that swells in water and is used as an emulsifying, suspending,… …   Medical dictionary

  • tragacanth — /trag euh kanth , traj /, n. a gummy substance derived from various low, spiny, Asian shrubs belonging to the genus Astragalus, of the legume family, esp. A. gummifer: used to impart firmness to pills and lozenges, stiffen calicoes, etc. Also… …   Universalium

  • tragacanth — [ tragəkanθ] (also gum tragacanth) noun a white or reddish gum obtained from a plant (Astragalus gummifer), used in the food, textile, and pharmaceutical industries. Origin C16: from Fr. tragacante, via L. from Gk tragakantha (name of the source… …   English new terms dictionary

  • tragacanth milk-vetch — kaučiukinė kulkšnė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pupinių šeimos vaistinis augalas (Astragalus gummifer), paplitęs vakarų Azijoje. Naudojamas maisto papildams gaminti, iš jo gaunami lipai. atitikmenys: lot. Astragalus gummifer angl. gum… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • tragacanth mucilage — [NF] a preparation of tragacanth, benzoic acid, and glycerin in distilled water, used as a skin protective …   Medical dictionary

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