Application

Acacia gum has been used as a surfactant in the development of hydrogels for tissue engineering applications. Acacia gum polymer has also been used to preserve microorganisms during sampling and storage.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Gum arabic (GA) is reported to be a strong anti-oxidant and has shown protection against nephrotoxicity in mice by the generation of free radicals. GA also reduced the blood glucose concentration by initiating the release of insulin from the pancreatic β cells. It has hypolipidemic effect by increasing fecal bile acid and modification of lipid digestion. It is a potential therapeutic agent in hepatic and renal failures. It contains enzymes like oxidases, pectinases and peroxidases that act against microbes that cause tooth decay. Gum arabic is implicated in adverse effects like suppression of macrophage activation.

Other Notes

Believed to be a branched polymer of galactose, rhamnose, arabinose, and glucuronic acid as the calcium, magnesium, and potassium salts with a mol. wt. of approx. 250,000.