Description

Gum arabic is a complex mixture of glycoproteins and polysaccharides. It was
    historically the source of the sugars arabinose and ribose, both of which were first
    discovered and isolated from it, and are named for it. Gum arabic is used primarily in
    the food industry as a stabilizer. It is edible and has E number E**4. Gum arabic is a
    key ingredient in traditional lithography and is used in printing, paint production, glue,
    cosmetics and various industrial applications, including viscosity control in inks and in
    textile industries, although less expensive materials compete with it for many of these
    roles.