Emerging Natural Hydrocolloids

10 Qodume Shahri (Lepidium perfoliatum) Seed Gum

Arash Koocheki¹ and Mohammad A. Hesarinejad²

¹ Department of Food Science and Technology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), PO Box 91775‐1163, Mashhad, Iran

² Department of Food Processing, Research Institute of Food Science and Technology (RIFST), PO Box 91735‐147, Mashhad, Iran

10.1 Introduction

Lepidium perfoliatum is locally called Qodume Shahri in Iran. The seeds of this plant have been used for hundreds of years in traditional Iranian medicinal prescriptions because of their pharmacological effects [1]. In traditional medicine, mucilage extracts from L. perfoliatum seeds are widely employed as a demulcent for the treatment of dry coughs, whooping cough, and lung infections [2]. Any of the 230 species of herbs constituting the genus Lepidium of the Cruciferae family are distributed throughout the world, and it is native to Egypt, Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan. Many, such as L. perfoliatum, are lawn and field weeds, but some are useful salad plants. Most species have long taproots, broad basal leaves differing from the narrow leaves on the flowering stalks, and spike‐like arrangements of small, greenish or whitish, four‐petaled flowers (Figure 10.1a).

Figure 10.1 Pictorial view of (a) Lepidium perfoliatum plant, (b) seeds, and (c) gum powder.

Lepidium perfoliatum seeds are 2 mm long, flat, rounded, ...