Acacia gum, or gum arabic, is a commonly harvested exudate gum primarily derived from Acacia senegal. It is produced in response to external stress or injury to the tree bark. Gum from Acacia seyal is also considered Acacia gum but is produced in smaller quantities. Chemically, it is a complex carbohydrate polymer composed of galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, and uronic acid.
Acacia gum is widely used as an additive in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, adhesives, and textiles due to its unique properties, including emulsifying, stabilizing, thickening, and microencapsulation. Its emulsifying ability is linked to the protein content in its structure. Additionally, Acacia gum is associated with health benefits such as anti-diabetic, prebiotic, and anti-obesity effects.
Globally, Acacia trees are primarily found in Africa, India, the Americas, and Australia. Major producers of Acacia gum include Senegal, Sudan, Nigeria, and Chad. On average, one Acacia tree yields about 0.25 kg of gum annually.
