Gum arabic, also known as acacia gum,
“ is a natural gum consisting of the hardened sap of various species of the acacia tree. Originally, gum arabic was collected from Acacia nilotica which was called the "gum arabic tree"; in the present day, gum arabic is predominantly collected from two related species, namely Acacia senegal and Vachellia (Acacia) seyal. Producers harvest the gum commercially from wild trees, mostly in Sudan (80%) and throughout the Sahel, from Senegal to Somalia—though it is historically cultivated in Arabia and West Asia.
Gum arabic is a complex mixture of glycoproteins and polysaccharides. It is the original source of the sugars arabinose and ribose, both of which were first discovered and isolated from it, and are named after it.
Gum arabic is used primarily in the food industry as a stabilizer. It is edible and has E number E414. Gum arabic is a key ingredient in traditional lithography and is used in printing, paint production, glue, cosmetics and various industrial applications, including viscosity control in inks and in textile industries, though less expensive materials compete with it for many of these roles.
While gum arabic is now produced throughout the African Sahel, it is still harvested and used in the Middle East. For example, Arab populations use the natural gum to make a chilled, sweetened, and flavored gelato-like dessert.
Gum arabic's mixture of polysaccharides and glycoproteins gives it the properties of a glue and binder that is edible by humans.
Also called acacia after the original source, gum arabic is used as an emulsifier and a thickening agent in icing, fillings, chewing gum and other confectionery.
Acacia gum reduces the surface tension of liquids, which leads to increased foaming in carbonated beverages. This can be exploited in what is known as a Diet Coke and Mentos eruption. (this can also be interesting if you want to create your own fluid soap)
While acacia gum has been harvested in Arabia, Sudan, and West Asia since antiquity, sub-Saharan acacia gum has a long history as a prized export.
Gum arabic slows the rate of absorption of some drugs, including amoxycillin, from the gut.
It is an important ingredient in shoe polish, and can be used in making homemade incense cones.”
It has more various uses.
Protects the kidneys * see research link 12419649
Anticancer (excerpt from research:” Accordingly, (Gum arabic ) GA treatment counteracts the development of tumors following chemical cancerogenesis. “) *see research link 24022265
Helps relieve kidney failure, increases creatinine clearance (excerpt from research:” Gum arabic increased 24-h creatinine clearance (from 283 +/- 35 to 382 +/- 40 muL/min [SEM]) and urinary antidiuretic hormone excretion, and decreased daily urine output (from 1.8 +/- 0.2 to 1.2 +/- 0.1 mL/24 h) as well as the urinary excretion of Na(+) (from 226 +/- 22 to 196 +/- 19 mumol/24 h). “) *see research link 18267216 & /22473073
Protects the bladder against chemotherapy med Cyclophosphamide ( excerpt from research:” the AG + CYCL treated bladder where almost normal configuration and integrity of the tissues is visible. There is no sign of inflammation or lesions in this sample as against the CYCL-treated sample. GA treatment by itself did not produce any effect on the structural integrity of the bladder. “) *see research link PMC2763258/
Can be an allergen /airway irritant *see research link PMC3124965/
Research and tips on Arabic gum: