Phytochemical and Biological Potential of Acacia Species: A Review

Abstract

This Review Comprehensively Examines the Phytochemicals Composition and Biological Activities of for Acacia Species: Acacia nilotica, Acacia catechu, Acacia senegal and Acacia auriculiformis. These species are renowned for their rich diversity of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids. The paper highlights the pharmacological potential of these compounds, including their antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Additionally, we discuss the traditional uses and emerging therapeutic applications of Acacia species in modern medicine, emphasizing the need for further research to explore their full medicinal potential.

Keywords

Introduction

Acacia genus belongs to family fabaceae. The heartwood of Acacia catechu L. is extracted using 10% hydro-alcoholic solution to produce katha in marketing (Sharma P., 2020). Many thousands of years before the ayurvedic and Unani medical systems, it was widely used in holistic medicine (Hashmat M.A. and Hussain R., 2013). Acacia catechu`s entire plant has a wide range of therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, astringent, anthelmintic, analgesic, anti-diabetic, Wound-healing, anti- tumor, and   immune-boosting properties. (B. Aggarwal, B., et al., 2011) Because they are natural, affordable, and effective, plants and plant extracts are utilized for medical purpose and are crucial in underdeveloped nations.

Plant parts like roots, bark, leaves, flowers, gum, and ponds were traditionally utilized as medicine (HM, S., 1997). This plant is used to cure a variety of illnesses, including colds, coughs, sore throats, diarrhea, dysentery, TB, piles, hepatitis C virus, burns, and scalds. It also processes anti-microbial, antiplasmodial, anticancer, antimutagenic, and antioxidant properties. Acacia senegal founds in south Africa, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria, chad, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Cameroun, and other African nations are also home to this indigenous species. (Mokwunye, M. U. B., & Aghughu, O., 2010). The tree yields gum Arabic, a material that is frequently used as an emulsifier, glue, and microencapsulating agent. Additionally, the textile, lithography, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and lessen chronic renal failure when taken as a dietary supplement. (Matsumoto N., et al., 2006) Furthermore, gum Arabic had antibacterial and antioxidant qualities. (Montenegro M. A., et al., 2012)

The deciduous or evergreen Acacia auriculiformis tree can reach a maximum height of thirty meters. Akis,’’Which meaning “Spike” or “point” in Greek, is the root of the common name for acacia. It contains high levels of galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, and methyl glucuronic acid. It is claimed to have spermicidal, filaricidal, and central nervous system depressive qualities due to the presence of tannins and triterpenoid saponins (Dobariya R., et al., 2024). It usually occurs in parks and by the side of the road in India. “Akkis” Which meaning “spike” or “point” in Greek, the root of the common name for acacia. On the other hand, the Latin term “auricula” indicates shape of leaves or seed pods, which resemble a small ear. This review focuses on the phytochemical composition and biological activities of various Acacia species, highlighting their potential therapeutic applications. A comprehensive analysis of the secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannis, is presented alongside their pharmacological effects, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic properties.

Acacia catechu (L.F.) Willd

Average hight of an Acacia catechu plant ranges from 5 to15meteres (Qadry J. S., 2008) with bipinnate leaves with 20-50 Pairs of leaflets and 10-30 pairs of pinnae that are unique (Wallis TE., 2005) and has a straight, greyish brown stem (Dhruve K., et al., 2011). The inflorescence has auxiliary pedunculate spikes and small, hooked spines.

Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. Ex Delile

Antioxidant activity

Rajbir S. et al. obtained the antioxidant kaempferol from the methanol extract of nilotica wild. Ex. Del (Kalaivani T. and Mathew I., 2010) While the antioxidant Umbelliferon was also recovered from the bark and leaves of Acacia nilotica (L.) Wild. Ex. Del (Singh R., et al., 2010). Plant parts of Acacia nilotica possess the antioxidant potential. Bark and leaves methanol and Ethanol extract of Acacia nilotica respectively were showed the antioxidant activity (Singh R., et al., 2010) (Osman Z., et al., 2014) and Ethyl gallate, an active antioxidant component also identified by kalaivani T. et al. in Acacia nilotica leaves.

Antidiabetic and antihypertensive Activity:

Acacia nilotica seed shows the significant effect of alloxanized diabetic rabbits. (Wadood, A. B. D. U. L., et al., 1989). Lukman A. Fatty acids and lignin, Vitamin-C, Quinones and alkaloids, Resin, phenols respectively.

Acacia senegal (L.)

Acacia senegal founds in south Africa, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria, Chad, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Cameroun, and other African nations. (Mokwunye, M. U. B., & Aghughu, O. 2010). The tree yields gum Arabic, a material that is frequently employed as an emulsifier, glue, and microencapsulating agent. Additionally, also used in textile, lithography, cosmetics, pharmaceutical (Ali, B.H. et al., 2009) (Montenegro M. A., et al., 2012)

Phytochemical properties

Renuka Jain reported that heartwood and roots of the acacia senegal tree possesses the Phytochemicals and Antibacterial Properties and also isolated a four Waxy compounds three Steroids,3triterpenoids, a novel quinic acid diester, a cyclohexitol, and Substance eicosanyl3-O-feruloylquinate Okoro S.O. reported the sterols, tannins, and saponins in bark of the Acacia senegal and also reported the Antibacterial potential against. (Okoro S.O., et al., 2012) The bark of the Acacia senegal have atidiabetic properties (Agrawal, T., 2018)

Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. Ex Benth

Acacia auriculiformis is a medium- sized, straight, or evergreen tree that can reach upto height of 30 metres. It usually occurs in parks and by the side of the road in India. “Akis,’’ which meaning “spike” or “point” in Greek, is the root of the common name for Acacia.

Antimicrobial Properties

Chew reported that funicles of Acacia auriculiformis possess the acacisides a and b demonstrated antibacterial activity by inhibiting Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus megaterium. Leaves and Flowers of Acacia auriculiformis also possess the antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Kalebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus cereus and Staphylo aureus.

CONCLUSION

Since ancient time, Traditional system medicine as used Acacia catechu Heartwood to treat a variety of illness. Its antidiabetic, Antihypertensive, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiplaque, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-cancer, and Wound-Healing Properties. Since ancient times, Acacia nilotica has been used in traditional medicine to cure a variety of illness. Its antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antispasmodic, antiviral properties. Overall, this is a brief overview of Acacia senegal that highlights   phytochemical properties and biological potential. Because of many therapeutic uses, Acacia auriculiformis, a multipurpose shrub that is widely spread throughout Asia, has long been used in conventional medicine. The plant is useful for treating a variety of medicinal aliments because of its bioactivity and the low toxicity of its phytoconstituents

REFERENCE

1. Agrawal, T. (2018). Ethnobotany of the Acacia senegal. World J Pharm Res, 7, 384-388.
2. Ali, B. H., Ziada, A., & Blunden, G. (2009). Biological effects of gum arabic: a review of some recent research. Food and chemical Toxicology, 47(1), 1-8.
3. B. Aggarwal, B., Prasad, S., Reuter, S., Kannappan, R., R. Yadav, V., Park, B., ... & Sung, B. (2011). Identification of novel anti-inflammatory agents from Ayurvedic medicine for prevention of chronic diseases:“reverse pharmacology” and “bedside to bench” approach. Current drug targets, 12(11), 1595-1653.
4. Dhruve, K., Harisha, C. R., & Prajapati, P. K. (2011). Pharmacognostical evaluation of Acacia catechu willd. heartwood with special reference to tyloses. International Journal, 336.
5. Dobariya, R., Savalia, V., Raninga, K., Tirgar, P., Savaliya, J., & Parmar, A. (2024). A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemical Profile of Acacia auriculiformis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT AND ENVIRONMENT, 10(03), 36-47.
6. Hashmat, M. A., & Hussain, R. (2013). A review on Acacia catechu Willd. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 5(1), 593-600.
7. Kalaivani, T., & Mathew, L. (2010). Free radical scavenging activity from leaves of Acacia nilotica (L.) Wild. ex Delile, an Indian medicinal tree. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 48(1), 298-305.
8. Matsumoto, N., Riley, S., Fraser, D., Al-Assaf, S., Ishimura, E., Wolever, T., ... & Phillips, A. O. (2006). Butyrate modulates TGF-β1 generation and function: potential renal benefit for Acacia (sen) SUPERGUM™(gum arabic)?. Kidney international, 69(2), 257-265.
9. Mokwunye, M. U. B., & Aghughu, O. (2010). Restoring Nigeria’s lead in gum Arabic production: prospects and challenges. Rep Opin, 4, 1-7.
10. Montenegro, M. A., Boiero, M. L., Valle, L., & Borsarelli, C. D. (2012). Gum Arabic: more than an edible emulsifier. Products and applications of biopolymers, 51, 953-978.
11. Okoro, S. O., Kawo, A. H., & Arzai, A. H. (2012). Phytochemical screening, antibacterial and toxicological activities of Acacia senegal extracts. Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 5(1), 163-170.
12. Osman, Z., Eltayeb, F., Albadawi, M., & Asaad Khalied, M. (2014). Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activities of Water Extracted Polyphenolics Contents of some Acacias Species. Journal of forest products and industries, 3(2), 89-92.
13. Qadry, J. S. (2008). Shah ‘s and Qadry‘s. Pharmacognosy, 12th edition, BS Shah Prakashan, Ahmedabad, 302-03.
14. HM, S. (1997). Huboob. Hamdard Pharmacopeia of Eastern Medicine.
15. Sharma, P. (2020). Investigation on photodecomposition of standardised ethyl acetate fraction of katha. Pharmacognosy Journal, 12(4).
16. Singh, R., Singh, B., Singh, S., Kumar, N., Kumar, S., & Arora, S. (2010). Umbelliferone–An antioxidant isolated from Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex. Del. Food Chemistry, 120(3), 825-830.
17. Wadood, A. B. D. U. L., Wadood, N. O. R. E. E. N., & Shah, S. A. (1989). Effects of Acacia arabica and Caralluma edulis on blood glucose levels of normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits. JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 39(8), 208-212.
18. Wallis TE, Textbook of Pharmacognosy, 5th Edition, CBS Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, 2005; 461-463.