Exploring the viability of tara gum ( caesalpinia spinosa) as a gelling agent for culture media, [author]: Azurin, Krizzha Faye P.,Dela Cruz, Allyson Dominic F., Gaspar, Maybelle Kate C., Lequin, Aarin Nicole N., Lucas, Jessica Marie I., Monteron, Emil John R.

Includes Appendix

ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to formulate culture media using a different kind of agar, Tara Gum (Caesalpinia spinosa) used as a gelling agent in making culture media. Tara Gum has potential nutrients that would help to promote growth of microorganisms making a cost efficient and sustainable culture media that can be used in microbiology. The study aims to promote the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using the proposed agar, Tara Gum.
METHOD: The commercially prepared Tara Gum used in culture media making, it will be the gelling agent to be used. Using a 1:1 ratio 12g of broth and agar dissolved into 250mL of distilled water, it will undergo culture media making with the use of laboratory instruments such as analytical balance to measure exact quantity of broth and agar, magnetic stirrer and hot plate to heat the mixture and dissolve completely, and autoclave for sterilization. Making a culture media that may be used in promoting the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
RESULT: The result of formulating to develop culture media using Tara Gum was not successful in having the gellike structure that every culture media should be. It results in viscous consistency with 1:1 ratio of broth and Tara Gum. Having different measurements by testing 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% concentrations to get the proper formula to create gel-like consistency, it remains a liquid to viscous state that cannot be used to perform in inoculating microorganism. This Led to the unsuccessful secondary goal of the study to promote the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using the proposed gelling agent Tara Gum.
CONCLUSION: Based on the result, the Tara Gum needed more in-depth study as gelling agent to produce a gellike culture media suitable for bacterial growth. Having inadequate data of Tara Gum, it may require additional thickening agent to stabilize culture in the cooling stage. The study advice to perform such comparative study to determine the full potential of Tara Gum with different gelling agents to understand the advantages and limitations.
KEYWORDS: Agar, Gel-like Consistency, Tara Gum, Thickening Agent, Stabilize, Tara gum

School of Medical Technology