Senegalia senegal
StarSenegalia senegal
Synonyms: Acacia rostrata, Acacia trispinosa, Acacia senegal subsp. senegalensis, Acacia pseudoglaucophylla, Acacia senegalensis, Acacia pseudoglauca, Acacia senegal subsp. trispinosa, Senegalia retusa, Acacia spinosa, Acacia senegal var. verek, Acacia senegal var. typica, Senegalia oliveri, Acacia unispinosa, Acacia virchowiana, Acacia verek, Senegalia senegal var. kerensis, Acacia senegal var. rostrata, Acacia platyosprion, Senegalia senegal var. rostrata, Mimosa senegal, Acacia asak var. unispinosa, Acacia senegal var. kerensis, Acacia rupestris, Acacia cufodontii, Acacia oxyosprion, Acacia volkii, Acacia senegal, Acacia senegal var. platyospirion, Acacia senegal var. pseudoglaucophylla, Acacia oliveri, Acacia senegal var. rupestris
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Senegalia senegal is the principal source of gum arabic, a major article of trade since antiquity. In Western pharmacy the gum (acacia) is a long-established demulcent and emollient, used to soothe irritated mucous membranes and as a suspending and emulsifying agent in medicines and lozenges (Martindale; British Pharmaceutical Codex). In African folk medicine across the Sahel, the gum, bark, and roots are used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery, sore throats and coughs, and are applied to wounds, burns, and inflamed skin (Burkill, 1995). The dissolved gum is also taken as a nourishing demulcent drink during illness and food scarcity.
Botanical Description
Senegalia senegal (formerly Acacia senegal), the gum arabic tree, is a small deciduous tree or shrub of the Fabaceae growing two to twelve metres tall, with a rounded crown and bark that ranges from greyish to yellowish-brown and flakes or peels. The branches bear groups of three short, hooked or recurved prickles at the nodes. The leaves are bipinnate with numerous small leaflets, typical of the mimosoid legumes. The fragrant flowers are creamy white to pale yellow and crowded into slender, elongate, spike-like inflorescences. The fruit is a flat, papery, oblong pod that splits to release several seeds. When the bark is wounded the tree exudes a hardened, pale amber gum (gum arabic). Native to the dry savannas and semi-arid Sahelian belt of sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Arabian region, it grows on sandy and rocky soils and is widely tapped commercially for its gum.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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