Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

27. V. K. Kaul et al.,Indian J. Pharm., 38 ,21
    (1975).


28. N. S. Alzoreky and K. Nakahara,Int. J.
    Food Micriobiol., 80 , 223 (2003).


29. D. Basaran et al.,Turk. J. Biol., 23 , 377
    (1999).


30. E. O. Turgay, Pharm. Biol., 40 , 269
    (2002).


31. F. Juteau et al.,Planta Med., 69 , 158
    (2003).


32. A. M. Korayem et al., Anzeiger
    Schaedlingsk Pflanze Umweltschutz.,
    66 , 32 (1993).


33. H. Chiasson et al.,J. Econ. Entomol., 94 ,
    167 (2001).


34. M. M. Zafar et al.,J. Ethnopharmacol.,
    30 , 223 (1990).


35. G. Ruecker et al.,Phytochemistry, 31 ,
    340 (1992).


36. S. G. Khattak et al.,J. Ethnopharmacol.,
    14 , 45 (1985).
    37. J. Strang et al.,Br. Med. J., 319 , 1590
    (1999).
    38. C. Gambelunghe and P. Melai,Forensic
    Sci. Int., 130 , 183 (2002).
    39. K. M. H€old et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
    USA, 97 , 3826 (2000).
    40. H. L. Bonkovsky et al., Biochem.
    Pharmacol., 43 , 2359 (1992).
    41. D. L. J. Opdyke,Food Cosmet. Toxicol.,
    13 (Suppl.), 721 (1975).
    42. D. D. Vogt,J. Ethnopharmacol., 4 , 337
    (1981).
    43. M. B. Quinlan et al.,J. Ethnopharmacol.,
    80 , 75 (2002).
    44. H. J. Woerdenbag et al. in P. A. G. M.
    De Smet et al., eds.,AdverseEffects of
    Herbal Drugs, Vol. 3, Springer-Verlag,
    Berlin, 1997, p. 15.
    45. T. Aburjai and F. M. Natsheh,Phytother.
    Res., 17 , 987 (2003).

ACACIA (GUM ARABIC)

Source:Acacia senegal(L.) Willd. and other
Acacia spp. (Family Leguminosae or
Fabaceae).

Common/vernacular names:Gomme arabi-
que, gomme de Senegal, gum acacia, gum
arabic, gum Senegal, gummae mimosae, and
kher.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The dried gummy exudate from stems and
branches ofAcacia senegal(L.) Willd. (syn.
A. verekGuill. et Perr.) or other related Afri-
canAcaciaspecies.Acacia senegalhas triple
spines at the base of its branchlets, which
distinguishes it from many otherAcaciaspp.
in its range. The trees are tapped by making
transverse incisions in the bark and peeling off

a thin strip of the bark. The gummy exudates

form as tears on the surface of the wounds and

are collected after they have hardened, usually

in 2 or more weeks.

The Republic of Sudan supplies most of the

world’s gum acacia and produces the best

qualityproduct.A.senegalrangesfromSenegal

to northeastern Africa, south to Mozambique.

Other suppliers include Senegal, Mauritania,

Chad, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.

Gum acacia is one of the most water-solu-

ble plant gums; one part acacia can dissolve in

two parts water, forming a weakly acidic

solution with pH 4.5–5.5. Its solutions have

lower viscosities than those of other natural

gums. It is insoluble in alcohol, chloroform,

ether, and oils and very slightly soluble in

glycerol and propylene glycol. It is almost

odorless and has a bland mucilaginous taste.

Gum acacia contains a peroxidase that,

unless destroyed by heating briefly at 100C,

forms colored compounds with certain amines

4 Acacia (gum arabic)