It possesses a broad range of health benefits that have been evidently proved through several in vitro and in vivo studies.
Acacia senegal
Plant
Gum
Acacia senegal
Fabaceae
(Eng.): Arabic-Gum; (Arabic): Hashab, Alloba; (Synonymes): Acacia verek.
Native to the Sudan region in Africa.
Gum, bark and fruits.
It is a low branching, small, and spiny tree, which grows up to 7-15 m in height. It has a rounded, flat-topped crown. The tree is deciduous, dropping its leaves during the dry season. The leaves are pinnately compound, 3.5-8 cm long. The yellowish-white and fragrant flowers are borne on cylindrical spikes, 5-10 cm long. The fruits are straight, hairy, flat, dehiscent papery pods.
Gum acacia contains neutral sugars (rhamnose, arabinose, and galactose), acids (glucuronic acid and 4-methoxyglucuronic acid), calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. Its backbone chain consists of D-galactose units, and its side chains are composed of D-glucuronic acid units with l-rhamnose or l-arabinose as end units. The molecular weight has been reported to be between 200,000 to 300,000 and as high as 600,000 (Leung, 1980). |
– Gum Arabic is a rich source of dietary fibers and in addition to its widespread use in food and pharmaceutical industries as a safe thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer.
– It is regarded as a prebiotic that enhances the growth and proliferation of the beneficial intestinal microbiota and therefore its intake is associated with these health benefits: Improved absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract; Anti-diabetic; Anti-obesity (Gum Arabic lowers the body mass index and body fat percentage); Lipid lowering potential (Gum arabic decreases total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride); Antioxidant activities; Kidney and liver support; Immune function via modulating the release of some inflammatory mediators; Prebiotic improving the intestinal barrier function, preventing colon cancer, and alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel diseases.