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Acacia Gum

Acacia gum is derived from the sap of the acacia tree, Acacia senegal. In its natural form it’s an odorless, white or yellow white to pale amber, brittle solid. The main component of the gum is arabin, which is the calcium salt of arabic acid. It’s almost completely soluble in water, but doesn’t dissolve in alcohol and is hydrolyzed to form arabinose, galactose, and arabinosic.

Acacia gum is available as flakes, granules, powder, and spray-dried formulations. It’s also available in a dry powder form that’s commonly used as a stabilizer in drug emulsions and as an additive in various oral combinations. Acacia gum may also be dissolved in water to make a mucilage.

Benefits And Uses of Acacia Gum

Acacia gum, which is essentially nontoxic, has no significant systemic effects when taken orally.

Although acacia gum is commonly used to reduce cholesterol levels, it may actually elevate these levels in serum and tissue. Acacia may be used in cough drops to soothe throat and stomach irritation, to treat diarrhea, and to impede absorption of certain substances.

Chewing acacia-based gum may limit development of periodontal disease and may also prevent plaque deposit. Whole gum mixtures of 0.5% to 1 % may prevent growth of periodontal bacteria, and mixtures of 0.5% may inhibit bacterial protease enzyme. Acacia also masks acrid substances such as capsicum and may be used as a treatment for catarrh, a mild stimulant, a food stabilizer, and a film-forming agent in peel-off skin masks. It’s also used in some wound-healing preparations.

Administration

The usual dose of acacia gum in mucilage form is 1 to 4 teaspoons by mouth . As a component in a drug preparation, the amount of acacia gum varies with the preparation. In periodontal use, for example, concentrations range from 0.5% to 1 %.

Side Effects of Acacia Gum

In general, patients with an allergy to acacia gum may develop severe bronchospasm or skin lesions.

When mixed with certain alkaloids, acacia gum may partially degrade them. Acacia gum is insoluble in substances containing ethyl alcohol concentrations of more than 50%. They should not be mixed together.

Ferric iron salt solutions may gelatinize acacia gum. The fiber component of acacia gum may impair absorption of oral drugs. Monitor for loss of therapeutic effect.

Clinical Considerations

• Monitor for allergic reactions to acacia dust, including severe bronchospasm and skin lesions
• Warn patient that conditions such as hyperlipidemia, periodontal infection, and GI and throat irritation could worsen if treatment is delayed.
• Advise patient with an allergy to acacia dust not to use acacia gum because severe reactions may occur.
• Advise patient to store dry powder, granule, or flake formulations in tightly closed containers.
• Advise patient that acacia gum may affect the absorption of other oral drugs and that he should notify his health care provider before using the herb.
• Tell patient to remind prescriber and pharmacist of any herbal or dietary supplement he is taking when obtaining a new prescription.

Research Summary

The regulatory specifications for Acacia senegal are inadequate to ensure that it isn’t adulterated with gums from other botanical sources.

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