Acacia arabica Willd. var. indica Benth.

Synonym:

A. nilotica (Linn.) Delile subsp. indica (Benth.) Brenan.

Family:

Mimosaceae.

Habitat:

Throughout the drier parts of India.

English:

Babul, Black Babul, Indian Gum arabic tree.

Ayurvedic:

Babbuula, Babbuuri, Baavari, Aabhaa, Shuulikaa, Shitaka, Kinkiraata, Yugmakantaka, Sukshmapatra, Pitapushpaka.

Unani:

Aqaaqia, Babuul, Kikar, Mughilaan, Samur.

Siddha/Tamil:

Karu-velamaram, Karuvelei. Velampisin (gum).

Action:

Stembark—astringent, spasmolytic, hypoglycaemic. Gum—demulcent (soothing agent for inflammatory conditions of the respiratory, digestive and urinary tracts). Pods—used in urogenital disorders. Seeds—hypoglycaemic in normal rats; no such effect in diabetic rats. Seed oil—antifungal. Flowers, pods and gum resin—used in diarrhoea and dysentery.

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of stembark in acute diarrhoea and helminthiasis.

Tannin contents of the bark varies considerably (12–20%). Several polyphenolic...