Acacia Gum
Scientific Name(s): Acacia senegal (L.) Willd., Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton
Common Name(s): Acacia arabica, Acacia gum, Acacia vera, Egyptian thorn, Gum arabic, Gum senegal, Gummae mimosae, Gummi africanum, Kher, Somali gum, Sudan gum arabic, Yellow thorn
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 24, 2023.
Clinical Overview
Use
Acacia gum has been used in pharmaceuticals as a demulcent. It has been used topically in wound-healing preparations. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial (ie, in periodontal disease), and lipidemic effects have been studied; however, robust clinical trials are lacking to support a definitive place in therapy.
Dosing
Clinical trials are generally lacking to provide dosing recommendations. Several trials used gum arabic 30 g orally daily for 6 to 12 weeks for various indications.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Allergic reactions have been reported. Adverse effects reported in clinical trials included unfavorable sensation in the mouth, early morning nausea, mild diarrhea, and bloating.
Toxicology
Acacia is essentially nontoxic when ingested and is generally recognized as safe (GRAS).
Scientific Family
- Fabaceae (pea)
- Leguminosae (bean)
Botany
The acacia tree (A. senegal; synonym Acacia verek Guill et Perr.) is a thorny, scraggly tree that grows approximately 4.5 m in height. It is most abundant in regions of Africa, especially in the Republic of Sudan. A distinguishing feature of the species is the presence of triple spines at the branchlet base. During times of drought, the bark of the tree splits, exuding a sap that dries in small droplets or tears. Historically, these hardened sap tears served as the major source of acacia gum, but modern commercial acacia gum is derived by tapping trees periodically and collecting the resin semimechanically.Khan 2010, USDA 2020 Trees of the genera Albizia and Combretum are often confused with acacia, but gums from these species should not be used as substitutes for acacia gum.Anderson 1990
History
Acacia gum has been used in traditional medicine and everyday applications.VanWyk 2015 The Egyptians used the material as glue and as a base for pain relievers. Arabic physicians treated a wide variety of ailments with the gum, resulting in the alternative name "gum arabic."Magic 1986 Currently, acacia gum is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry as a demulcent and in the food industry to give body and texture to processed food products. It also is used to stabilize emulsions. The fibers of the bark are used to make cordage.Duke 2002 The gum has also been administered intravenously (IV) to counteract low blood pressure following surgery and to treat edema associated with nephrosis, but because IV administration was found to cause renal and liver damage, as well as allergic reactions, use of this route was abandoned.Morton 1977
Chemistry
Acacia gum is a brittle, odorless, and generally tasteless material that contains a number of neutral sugars, acids, calcium, and other electrolytes.Khan 2010 The main component of the gum is arabin, the calcium salt of the polysaccharide arabic acid.Evans 1989 The gum is built upon a backbone of D-galactose units, with side chains of D-glucuronic acid having L-rhamnose or L-arabinose terminal units. The molecular weight of the gum ranges from 200,000 to 600,000 Da. It is soluble in water, but insoluble in alcohol.Khan 2010 Acacia gum contains a peroxidase enzyme, which is typically destroyed by brief exposure to heat. If not inactivated, this enzyme forms colored complexes with certain amines and phenols and catalyzes the oxidation of many pharmaceutical products, including alkaloids and some vitamins.Khan 2010
The quality and grade of acacia gum is variable depending on growing conditions and collection method.Evans 1989 A comprehensive analysis, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectra for 35 samples of gum arabic, has been published to serve as the basis for international standardization of preparations.Anderson 1991
Uses and Pharmacology
Anti-inflammatory activity
Animal and in vitro data
An in vitro study examining the effects of plant-derived arabinogalactan proteins isolated from A. senegal seeds on the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line suggested modulation of skin innate immune responses. Additionally, an increase in mitochondrial enzyme and antioxidant activity were noted.Zahid 2017 Studies in rodents have reported modulation of inflammation, as evidenced by changes in cytokine and other inflammatory markers.Kamal 2018
Clinical data
A 12-week single-arm (gum arabic 30 g daily) clinical study (N=40) reported decreases in serum tumor necrosis factor alpha, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and number of swollen and tender joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Kamal 2018
Antimicrobial activity
Animal and in vitro data
In mice infected with malaria, gum arabic decreased parasitemia and increased survival by an unknown mechanism.Ballal 2011, Kurup 1992, Nasir 2013 In vitro studies suggest high concentrations are required for effect.Ballal 2011, Kurup 1992 Conversely, acacia gum reduces the antibacterial effectiveness of the preservative methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, presumably by offering physical barrier protection to the microbial cells due to the action of the preservative.Ballal 2011, Kurup 1992
Antioxidant activity
Animal and in vitro data
Plant-derived arabinogalactans isolated from A. senegal seeds demonstrated antioxidant activity.Ali 2013, Zahid 2017
Clinical data
A 12-week single-arm (gum arabic 30 g daily) clinical study in patients with sickle cell disease (N=47) reported improved total antioxidant capacity scores and decreased markers of oxidative stress.Kaddam 2017
Dermatological effects
Acacia gum has traditionally been used as an emollient, astringent, and demulcent on irritated mucous membranes, including in the treatment of skin disorders.Bhatnagar 2013
Animal and in vitro data
Bypolymers from acacia gum have been studied as wound dressing materials in vitro and in rodent models.Bhatnagar 2013
Clinical data
In a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the effectiveness of standard peristomal skin care to adjunctive techniques or barriers, one of the 6 randomized controlled trials included evaluated A. senegal fiber pockets versus zinc oxide ointment as a colostomy wound dressing in infants with Hirschsprung enterocolitis or imperforate anus. Among infants receiving the acacia barrier, lower inflammation rates were reported than with the comparator zinc ointment.Tam 2014
Diabetes/Metabolic syndrome
Animal data
Gum arabic added to porridge reduced postprandial blood glucose increases in mice.Hu 2014 In diabetic mice, gum arabic decreased food and fluid intake but did not modify body weight.Nasir 2013 In a study evaluating 15% gum arabic for 8 weeks in rats with diabetes, antioxidant activity was demonstrated, but mean blood glucose was unaffected.Ahmed 2015
A. senegal has been used as the control agent in a study evaluating Uvaria chamae (bush banana) in rats with induced diabetes.Emordi 2018
Clinical data
No effects on insulin or glucose blood concentrations were found in a study using gum acacia and pectin in patients with metabolic syndrome (N=21).Pouteau 2010
In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of patients with type 2 diabetes (N=91), those allocated to treatment (gum arabic 30 g daily for 3 months) reportedly showed increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and decreased body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure compared with the placebo group (pectin 5 g). Differences in blood glucose values post intervention in the gum arabic group were reported; however, differences versus placebo group were not reported.Babiker 2018
GI effects
Animal and in vitro data
In rodent models of chronic diarrhea, gum arabic preserved glucose and electrolyte levels and hydration.Khan 2010 A study in rats demonstrated a protective effect of acacia gum against meloxicam-induced GI insult. No pharmacological interaction with meloxicam with consequent effect on absorption of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug was found.Abd El-Mawla 2011
In an experiment using a nonadapted human bacterial population from 3 normal subjects, extent of in vitro fermentation was greater for gum arabic than for psyllium.Bliss 2013
Clinical data
A probiotic effect (bifidogenic) of acacia gum has been reported.Hu 2014, Slavin 2013
A randomized clinical study (N=189) evaluating dietary fiber supplements for fecal incontinence found no change in fecal incontinence frequency with gum arabic versus psyllium.Bliss 2011, Bliss 2014
Hyperlipidemia
Animal data
Binding of gum arabic to fatty acids has been demonstrated in vitro, potentially decreasing dietary lipid absorption.Fang 2010 Studies in rodents evaluating potential hypocholesterolemic effects have produced equivocal results.Khan 2010
Clinical data
Clinical findings regarding hypocholesterolemic effects of acacia gum are equivocal. When administered for periods of 4 to 12 weeks to patients with hypercholesterolemia or those with metabolic syndrome, acacia gum had no effect on the plasma profile.Haskell 1992, Jensen 1993, Pouteau 2010 A single-arm clinical study in patients with sickle cell anemia (N=47) reported decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein, with no effect on HDL following gum arabic 30 g daily for 12 weeks.Kaddam 2019, Kaddam 2019 In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of patients with type 2 diabetes (N=91), those allocated to treatment (gum arabic 30 g daily for 3 months) reportedly showed increased HDL and decreased BMI and systolic blood pressure compared with the placebo group (pectin 5 g).Babiker 2018
Obesity
Clinical data
Increased satiety was observed in a clinical study evaluating different doses of gum arabic. Reductions in energy intake amounting to 100 to 200 kcal were reported with gum arabic doses ranging from 5 to 40 g.Calame 2011 A clinical trial of healthy females (N=120) reported decreased BMI and body fat following consumption of gum arabic (A. senegal) 30 g daily for 6 weeks.Babiker 2012
Periodontal disease
Animal and in vitro data
Whole gum mixtures of acacia inhibit the growth of periodontic bacteria, including Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia, when added to culture medium at concentrations of 0.5% to 1%.Clark 1993 The erosive effects of citric acid on enamel were muted in vitro when mixed with gum arabic.Beyer 2010
Clinical data
At a concentration of 0.5%, acacia whole gum mixture inhibited bacterial protease enzymes, suggesting acacia may be useful in limiting the development of periodontal disease. In addition, chewing an acacia-based gum for 7 days reduced mean gingival and plaque scores compared with use of a sugar-free gum. Total differences in these scores were significant between groups (P<0.05), suggesting that acacia gum primarily inhibits the early deposition of plaque.Gazi 1991, Lindquist 2011 In a small clinical study (N=11), a gum arabic lozenge increased oral pH after a rinse with simulated gastric acid, protecting against enamel erosion.Gazi 1991, Lindquist 2011
Renal effects
Animal data
A series of reports were published on the use of acacia gum in rats with induced renal failure. Effects included antihypertensive reactions, reduced anemia and proteinuria, and improved oxidative stress.Ali 2011, Ali 2013, Ali 2014, Ali 2014 Enhanced creatinine clearance was demonstrated in healthy mice given gum arabic 10% in drinking water.Nasir 2013 An antioxidant effect may contribute toward observed efficacy.Gado 2013
Clinical data
Increased excretion of nitrogen and urea was observed in patients with chronic renal failure given gum acacia.Khan 2010 However, in a 12-week single-arm clinical study conducted among patients with sickle cell disease (N=47), reductions in serum urea levels were not sustained after the first month of gum arabica 30 g daily administration.Kaddam 2019, Kaddam 2019
Dosing
Clinical trials are generally lacking to provide dosing recommendations. Several trials used gum arabic 30 g orally daily for 6 to 12 weeks for various indications.Babiker 2012, Babiker 2018, Kaddam 2017, Kaddam 2019, Kaddam 2019, Kamal 2018, Pouteau 2010
Pregnancy / Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Allergic reactions have been reported.Khan 2010 Adverse effects reported in clinical trials included unfavorable sensation in the mouth, early morning nausea, mild diarrhea, and bloating.Babiker 2012, Pouteau 2010 IV administration has been reported to cause renal and liver damage.Morton 1977 Bilirubin and serum ALT were reduced among patients with sickle cell disease (N=47) given gum arabica 30 g daily in a 12-week single-arm study. No effect on serum AST was observed.Kaddam 2019
Toxicology
Acacia is essentially nontoxic when ingested, and has GRAS status.CFR 2019, Khan 2010
Index Terms
- Acacia verek Guill et Perr.
References
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This information relates to an herbal, vitamin, mineral or other dietary supplement. This product has not been reviewed by the FDA to determine whether it is safe or effective and is not subject to the quality standards and safety information collection standards that are applicable to most prescription drugs. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this product. This information does not endorse this product as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this product. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this product. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You should talk with your health care provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this product.
This product may adversely interact with certain health and medical conditions, other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, foods, or other dietary supplements. This product may be unsafe when used before surgery or other medical procedures. It is important to fully inform your doctor about the herbal, vitamins, mineral or any other supplements you are taking before any kind of surgery or medical procedure. With the exception of certain products that are generally recognized as safe in normal quantities, including use of folic acid and prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, this product has not been sufficiently studied to determine whether it is safe to use during pregnancy or nursing or by persons younger than 2 years of age.
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