gum arabic tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Arabic Gumtree
• Gum Arabic Tree
• Egyptian acacia
• Indian gum-arabic-tree
• babul acacia
• black babul
• prickly acacia
• scentedthorn
• thorn-mimosa
• thorny acacia
• Babul
• scented-pod thorn

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Gumifera nilotica
• Acacia arabica var. nilotica
• Mimosa nilotica
• Acacia nilotica
• Acacia scorpioides var. nilotica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Vacchellia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across various regions of Northern Africa. It can be found growing in the landscapes of Algeria and Egypt. Additionally, its presence extends to the territories of Libya and Morocco. The species also reaches the Macaronesian islands, specifically appearing in Cape Verde. Together, these locations define the primary geographical range of this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vachellia nilotica is characterized by its adaptability to diverse African landscapes, thriving across a broad altitudinal gradient that spans from as low as 5 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 1829 m AMSL. This species is predominantly found within varied vegetation structures, showing a particular affinity for wooded grasslands, woodlands, and Acacia grasslands. It is also frequently integrated into open bushland and clump bushland, where it often serves as a dominant component of the local flora.

Elevational range max:

1829 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Habitat :

wooded grassland, woodland, Acacia grassland, open bushland and clump bushland (often dominant)

Life history

The life history of Vachellia nilotica is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, a life form that can be further categorized into different phanerophyte growth strategies depending on the specific ecological niche it occupies. Throughout much of its existence, the species exhibits evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage to facilitate continuous metabolic processes, though its overall physiological state remains robust over its extended lifespan.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vacchellia nilotica is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a tree or a shrub. This terrestrial species is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or a vine, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, with dimensions ranging from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of approximately 15.24 m, maintaining an average height of about 8 m. As a non-epiphytic, terrestrial plant, its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, supporting its development across different ecological niches within its habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15.24018532 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vachellia nilotica is characterized by its efficient metabolic processes adapted to its environmental niche. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism typical of many woody species where carbon dioxide fixation occurs directly through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. Furthermore, the plant possesses the physiological capability to act as a nitrogen fixer, facilitating a symbiotic relationship that allows it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form, thereby enhancing its nutrient acquisition and supporting growth in nitrogen-limited soils.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vachellia nilotica is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering cycle and complex biotic interactions. The plant's flowering period typically begins in July and extends through November, though the timing can be variable. The reproductive process relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects, with bees identified as a primary pollinator. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit distinct morphological traits; the seed mass varies significantly, ranging from a minimum of 0.016 g to a maximum of 0.204 g, with a mean mass of approximately 0.143 g. The seed volume is highly consistent, recorded at a constant 160 mm³. Once mature, the dispersal of these seeds is facilitated through a zoochorous syndrome, meaning they are dispersed by animals to facilitate the spread and establishment of new individuals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Nov

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.204 g

Seed mass mean:

0.143206095285714 g

Seed mass min:

0.016 g

Seed volume max:

160 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vachellia nilotica has 6 reported plant parts identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root, stem, flower.

Fruit

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Frontiers in nutrition

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Scientific reports
3. SpringerPlus
4. Heliyon
5. Biotechnology and applied biochemistry

Root

1. Ancient science of life
2. Frontiers in chemistry
3. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
4. Scientific reports
5. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Stem

1. SpringerPlus
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
3. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Flower

1. Molecular biology reports
2. Scientific reports

Seed

1. The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene

Chemicals

Vachellia nilotica has 137 reported phytochemicals identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Gallic acid, METHYL GALLATE, Saponins.

Flavonoids

1. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
2. Veterinary research forum : an international quarterly journal
3. Inflammopharmacology
4. Natural product communications
5. Archives of dermatological research

Tannins

1. Veterinary research forum : an international quarterly journal
2. Inflammopharmacology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Archives of dermatological research
5. Planta medica

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Fitoterapia
4. Frontiers in chemistry

METHYL GALLATE

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Fitoterapia
4. Biotechnology and applied biochemistry

Saponins

1. Veterinary research forum : an international quarterly journal
2. Inflammopharmacology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Archives of dermatological research

pyrogallol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Veterinary research forum : an international quarterly journal

CATECHIN

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular diversity

Activities

Vachellia nilotica has 501 reported activities identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antimutagenic, Antibacterial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in nutrition
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
4. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
5. Scientific reports

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular biology reports
3. Frontiers in nutrition
4. Scientific reports

Antimicrobial

1. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
2. Frontiers in nutrition
3. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer
3. Teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, and mutagenesis

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in nutrition

Antifungal

1. Frontiers in nutrition
2. Archives of dermatological research

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Virology journal

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular biology reports

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society

Conditions

Vachellia nilotica has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candida albicans, leishmaniasis, osteoporosis, trypanosomiasis.

Candida albicans

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Leishmaniasis

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Osteoporosis

1. Biotechnology and applied biochemistry

Trypanosomiasis

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Preparations

Vachellia nilotica has 50 reported preparations identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, methanolic extract, water extracts, Methanolic extracts, acetone extract.

Extracts

1. Inflammopharmacology
2. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer
3. Frontiers in chemistry

Methanolic extract

1. Virology journal
2. Heliyon
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Water extracts

1. The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanolic extracts

1. Toxicology mechanisms and methods
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Acetone extract

1. Teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, and mutagenesis
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Methanol extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

70% ethanol extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Bark methanolic extract

1. ACS omega

Cme

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hexane-methanolic plant extract

1. PloS one