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Senegalia senegal or gum acacia

Senegalia senegal or gum acacia

A deciduous (that loses its leaves during the winter) thorny bush or tree. It can vary in size from small to medium and grow up to 15 m tall. The colour of its bark can vary from a yellowish brown to blackish on older trees. Its leaves are bipinnate, alternating on each side of the stem. Its elliptical to oblong shaped folioles are aligned in 7-25 linear pairs.

Latin name

Acacia senegal Willd.

Origin

Senegalia Senegal, which originates in Africa, is widespread in the regions extending from Senegal to Mauritania, and in East Africa to Eritrea and Ethiopia. It can also be found in South Africa, the Middle East (Yemen, Oman) and in Asia (Pakistan, India). It has been introduced into Egypt, Australia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Its sap is the principal source of gum arabic.

Used part

Gum arabic. Incisions are made into the bark of bushes aged 6 years or more, in February-March. Over the months that follow, the exudate is collected and dried. This substance is better known as “gum arabic”.

Active components

Fibre: its fibre supports the activity of the intestinal flora, thus contributing to healthy intestinal function.

Usage

The use of Senegalia dates back to the first Egyptian dynasty (3400 AC). It was first used to make ink, in a mixture of carbon, gum and water. Thanks to the simultaneous presence of hydrosoluble and liposoluble components, gum arabic has emulsifying properties. It is therefore widely used in industry as a stabiliser, thickener, or emulsifying agent. It has applications in textiles, ceramics, lithography, and the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Its best know application is undoubtedly as the glue used on stamps. In the food industry, it is mainly used in confectionery, bakery, dairy products and carbonated drinks. Gum arabic has a bifidogenic and probiotic effect. In other words, it supports healthy intestinal flora. _1-8

Bibliographical references

Biological effects of gum arabic: a review of some recent research.
Ali BH, Ziada A, Blunden G.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2009 Jan;47(1):1-8.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18672018
Effect of fiber source on short-chain fatty acid production and on the growth and toxin production by Clostridium difficile.
May T, Mackie RI, Fahey GC Jr, Cremin JC, Garleb KA.
Scand J Gastroenterol. 1994 Oct;29(10):916-22.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7839098
Fermentation of wheat bran and gum arabic in rats fed on an elemental diet.
Walter DJ, Eastwood MA, Brydon WG, Elton RA.
Br J Nutr. 1988 Sep;60(2):225-32.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2848572
Specific effect of guar gum or gum arabic on adaptation of cecal digestion to high fiber diets in the rat.
Tulung B, Rémésy C, Demigné C.
J Nutr. 1987 Sep;117(9):1556-61.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2821201
Gum arabic establishes prebiotic functionality in healthy human volunteers in a dose-dependent manner.
Calame W, Weseler AR, Viebke C, Flynn C, Siemensma AD.
Br J Nutr. 2008 Dec;100(6):1269-75.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18466655
Acacia Gum is a Bifidogenic Dietary Fibre with High Digestive Tolerance in Healthy Humans
Christine Cherbut, Catherine Michel, Virginie Raison, Thierry Kravtchenko and Meance Severine
2003, Vol. 15, No. 1 , Pages 43-50
Informa Healthcare: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08910600310014377
The regulatory and scientific approach to defining gum arabic (Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal) as a dietary fibres
Glyn O. Phillipsa,, Takashi Ogasawarab, Kazunari Ushida
Food Hydrocolloids, Volume 22, issue 1 (January, 2008), p. 24-35.
Europe PMC: http://europepmc.org/abstract/AGR/IND43938420
In vitro prebiotic effects of Acacia gums onto the human intestinal microbiota depends on both botanical origin and environmental pH.
Michel C, Kravtchenko TP, David A, Gueneau S, Kozlowski F, Cherbut C.
Anaerobe. 1998 Dec;4(6):257-66.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16887651

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