Tragacanth
Tragacanth, a gum obtained from certain thorny shrubs of the arid regions of western Asia and southeastern Europe. It is sometimes called gum tragacanth. Tragacanth was used as a drug in ancient times; in modern medicine it is used as an adhesive agent in making pills and to keep insoluble powders in suspension when they are used in liquid medications. Tragacanth is also used for making food preservatives, dyes, and cosmetics.
Tragacanth is obtained from plants of the genus Astragalus, especially A. gummifer.