Review Article

A Review of Pharmacological Activities of Acacia

nilotica (Linn) willd W.S.R to Osteoporosis
Kamini Kaushal1

Abstract
Medicinal plants have been utilized for the treatment of diseases since creation of earth or before it;
in traditional medicine, they still play an important role as effective and have natural origin. Acacia
nilotica commonly known as babul belongs to the family Fabaceae and is widely distributed all over
India, SriLanka, and Sudan; Egypt is the native country of this plant. Useful parts such as root, bark,
leaves, flower, gum, pods, etc., are used in medicines. Different parts of the plant like leaves and
fruit contain tannin; flower contains stearic acid, kaempferol-3-glucoside, isoquercetin,
leucocyanidin; pod contains tannin, polyphenolic compounds, gum Contains arabic acid combined
with calcium, magnesium and potassium.
In traditional medicine, it is used for bleeding diseases, prolapsed, leucorrhoea, antihypertensive,
antispasmodic, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant activity, etc. The present review is an attempt to
explore and comprehensively highlight use for osteoporosis, phytochemical properties and
pharmacological uses of A. nilotica reported till date.

Keywords: Acacia arabica; Acacia nilotica, Pharmacological study, Tannin, Arabic acid, Uses
Introduction
More than 30% healthcare industry from all over the world relies on medicinal plants. In India, traditional system of
medicine such as Ayurveda since ancient times is root of medicine. About 750 species are being utilized in Ayurveda
system of medicine and in modern medicine around 30 species only.1 Medicinal plants are playing continuously
essential part of Indian system of medicine. Acacia genus belongs to shrubs and trees, subfamily Mimosoideae,2,3 of
the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae).4,5 The species name is nilotica/arebica/scorpioides. A. nilotica known as babbula is
the important tree of the dry parts of India. Almost all its parts like root, bark, leaves, flower, gum, pods, etc.,9,13 are
used in Ayurveda. A. scorpioides W. Wight, Mimosa arabica Lam., Vachellia nilotica, Mimosa nilotica L., and Mimosa
scorpioides L 6 are synonyms.

Names in Different Languages

English: Indian gum arabic, Tomentose Babool, Black piquant, Black babul, Gum arabic, Egyptian mimosa, Egyptian
thorn, Prickly acacia, Nile acacia, Scented thorn, Scented-pod acacia7,12; Arabic: Ummughilan,12 Usarequrz,11,13;
Persian: Kharemughilan9,11,12; Urdu: Babul, Kikar9,12; Hindi: Kikar8,11,12; Kannada: Jaali, Gobbli2,8; Tamil: Karuvelam12;
Telugu: Nallatumma8,12; Sinhala: Babbulae10; Sanskrit: Yugmakanta (two spikes are seen together), Dridaruha (strong
stem, branches), Sukshma patra (smal leaves), Mahaphala (pods resemble a chain), Kantaki (spikes), Sapeetaka,
Peetapushpa (yellow colored flower), Kashayakaha (astringent in taste).
1
HOD of PG Department of Dravyaguna, MMM Govt. Ayurveda College, Udaipur (Raj.), India.
E-mail Id: drkaushal2002@yahoo.com
Orcid Id: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7638-2170
How to cite this article: Kaushal K. Review of Pharmacological Activities of Acacia nilotica (Linn) willd W.S.R to Osteoporosis. J Adv
Res Ayur Yoga Unani Sidd Homeo 2017; 4(1&2): 3-7.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): https://doi.org/10.24321/2394.6547.201702
ISSN: 2394-6547

© ADR Journals 2017. All Rights Reserved.

Kaushal K J. Adv. Res. Ayur. Yoga Unani Sidd. Homeo. 2017; 4(1&2)

Description subcircular, compressed, areole 6–7 mm long, 4.5–5 mm

wide. The plant has straight, light, thin, grey spines in
A. nilotica is a tree 5 to 20 m high with a thick spherical axillary pairs, usually in 3–12 pairs, 5–7.5 cm long in
crown with spikes, usually black-colored stems and young trees, mature trees commonly without thorns.
branches, grey-pinkish slash, fissured bark, exuding a The leaves are bipinnate, with 3–6 pairs of pinnulae and
reddish low-quality gum; variable in shape; bark on 10–30 pairs of leaflets each, rachis with a gland at the
trunk rough, fissured, blackish, grey or brown; young bottom of the last pair of pinnulae. Flowers in globulous
branches almost glabrous to subtomentose. stipules heads 1.2–1.5 cm in diameter of a bright golden-yellow
spine scent, up to 8 cm long. Leaf often with 1–2 color, axillary or whorly on peduncles 2–3 cm long
petiolar glands and others between all or only the located at the end of the branches. Pods are strongly
topmost of the 2-11 pairs of pinnae; leaflets 7–25 pairs, constricted, white-grey, hairy and thick (baravker et al.,
c. 1.5–7 mm long, c. 0.5–1.5 mm wide, glabrous to 2008). A. nilotica is a pantropical and subtropical genus
pubescent. Inflorescence axillary pedunculate heads, 6– with species abundant throughout Asia, Australia, Africa
15 mm in diameter. Flowers bright yellow, involucel and America. A. nilotica occurs naturally in reserved
from near base to half way up the peduncle. Calyx 1–2 forests, wastelands and is imperative in traditional rural
mm long, pubescent or subglabrous. Corolla 2.5–3.5 mm and agro-pastoral systems (Shittu, 2010). A. nilotica is an
long, glabrous to more or less pubescent outside. Fruit imperative multipurpose plant that has been used
very variable, indehiscent, straight or curved, glabrous broadly for the treatment of various diseases (Singh et
to velvety, 4–22 cm long, c. 1.3–2.2 cm wide. Seed al., 2009b).
blackish brown, smooth, 7–9 mm long, 6–7 mm wide,
Table 1.Medicinal Uses of Different Parts of A. nilotica
Part used Common uses References
Root Cancers and/or tumors (of ear, eye, or testicles), tuberculosis and (Kalaivani and Mathew,
indurations of liver and spleen. 2010)
Leaf Chemoprventive, anti-mutagenic, anti-bacterial, anticancer, (Kalaivani and Mathew,
astringent, anti-microbial, diarrhea, aphrodisiac, dressing of ulcers, 2010; Shittu, 2010;
anti-inflammatory and Alzheimer’s disease. Kalaivani et al., 2010)
Gum Astringent, emollient, liver tonic, antipyretic and anti-asthmatic. (Baravkar et al., 2008)
Stem bark Anti-bacterial, antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, cytotoxic, astringent, acrid (Agrawal et al., 2010; Del,
cooling, styptic, emollient, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, 2009; Kalaivani and
expectorant, emetic, nutritive, in hemorrhage, wound ulcers, leprosy, Mathew, 2010; Kaur et al.,
leukoderma, small pox, skin diseases, biliousness, burning sensation, 2005; Singh et al., 2009;
toothache, leukoderma, dysentery and seminal weakness, cold, Singh et al., 2008a)
bronchitis, diarrhea, dysentery, biliousness, bleeding piles and
leukoderma.
Seeds Spasmogenic activity and anti-plasmodial activity. (El-Tahir et al.,1999; Amos
et al., 1999)
Pods Anti-hypertensive and antispasmodic, anti-diarrheal, astringent, anti- (Gilani et al., 1999; Asres et
(Fruit) fertility and against HIV-1 PR, inhibited HIV-1 induced al., 2005; Shah et al., 1997;
cythopathogenicity, antiplatelet aggregatory activity and anti oxidant. Singh et al., 2009)

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J. Adv. Res. Ayur. Yoga Unani Sidd. Homeo. 2017; 4(1&2) Kaushal K

Natural medicinal plants promote self-healing, good been reported for the first time]. Another compound
health and durability in Ayurvedic medicine practices umbelliferone has been reported from A. nilotica (Singh
and it is acknowledged that A. nilotica can provide et al., 2010b)
nutrients and therapeutic ingredients to prevent,
mitigate or treat many diseases or conditions). Chemical Constituents

Phytochemistry Bark and pods of A. nilotica contain 12–20% tannin,

various polyphenolic compounds (dicatechin, quercetin,
Phytochemical screening of the stem bark of A. nilotica gallic acid14,16 and∞ - amyrin, ß-sitosterol.17,15 Galactose,
exposed that the plant contains terpenoids, alkaloids, aldobio uronic and arabinobioses are present in the gum
saponins and glycosides. Negative results were recorded resin. 52% calcium and 20% magnesium are also part of
for steroids and flavonoids which authenticate the this gum resin. Flavonoids, kaempferol-3-glucoside, iso-
absence of these phytochemicals (Banso, 2009). This quercitrin and leucocyanidin are reported in the flower.
plant recommends a variety of phytochemical such as
gallic acid, ellagic acid, isoquercitin, leucocyanadin, Wood contain chlorides,18 seeds contain moisture,
kaempferol-7-diglucoside, glucopyranoside, rutin, crude protein, fat, N-free extract, crude fiber, calcium,
derivatives of (+)-catechin-5-gallate, apigenin-6,8-bis-C- phosphorous, iron, niacin, ascorbic acid, and thiamine.
glucopyranoside, m-catechol and their derivatives. A. The essential amino acid composition of the seed
nilotica contains gallic acid, m-digallic acid, (+)-catechin, protein is histidine, lysine, methionine, cystine, leucine,
chlorogenic acid, gallolyated flavan-3, 4-diol, robidandiol valine, and threonine and fruit also contain gallic acid.17
(7, 3, 4, 5-tetrahydroxyflavan-3-4-diol), and rostene Root contains hentriacontane, lapachol, n-
steroid, D-pinitol carbohydrate and catechin-5-galloyl hentriacontanol, sitosterol,19 octacosanol, betulin, ß-
ester (Singh et al., 2009a). The bark is prosperous in amyrin.16
phenolics, viz., condensed tannin and phlobatannin,
gallic acid, protocatechuic acid pyrocatechol, (+)- Ayurvedic Pharmacology of Babbula20
catechin, (-) epigallocatechin-7-gallate, and (-)
Babbula classically categorized as:
epigallocatechin-5,7-digallate (Singh et al., 2009a). The
bark is also reported to contain (-) epicatechin, (+) • Kaiyyadeva Nighantu-Oushadhi varga
dicatechin, quercetin, gallic acid (+), leucocyanidin • Shodhala Nighantu-Amradi varga
gallate, sucrose and (+) catechin-5-gallate (Mitra and • Bhava Prakasha Nighantu_ vatadi varga
Sundaram, 2007). A. nilotica is a medicinal plant from
which the polyphenolic compounds kaempferol has
Rasa(Taste) Guna(Qualities) Virya(Active Vipaka(Metabolism) Karma (Action)
Principle)
Kashaya • Guru (heavy to Shita (coolant) Katu (undergoes pungent • Kaphahara
(astringent) digest) taste after digestion) (balances kapha dosha)
• Rooksha (dry in • Pittavahara (gum-
nature) balances pitta-vata
doshas)

Effect on Doshas are inversely proportional to each other. that means

when vayu increases in asthi, asthi decreases, and vice
It harmonizes the kapha, vata and pitta dosha so it can versa. Classical text recommended babbula for proper
be used effectively in diseases of kapha, vata and pitta union of fractured bones and also for strengthening
doshas origin. According to Ayurveda, bone, i.e., asthi otherwise healthy bones. Babool bark decoction is
(bone tissue) is the 5th dhatu in our body. Bone has recommended for gargling in mouth, teeth and throat
panchabhautic constitution and it exhibits properties of problems also. It is used by traditional healers of
prithvi mahabhuta more prominently. Asthi is one of the different regions of Chattisgarh state in India in
destinations of vayu (vata sthana). The vayu and asthi treatment of bone.

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A. arabica causes a significant increase in the calcium Precautions and Side Effects
content in the diaphyseal and metaphyseal tissues. The
effect could be due to the steroidal content present in The babbula sometime causes bloating, intestinal gas,
drug extracts. So A. arabica can be used as an anti- more frequent bowel movement and skin inflammation
osteoporotic agent ({{cite web | title=Effect of Acacia and intravenous injection of gum arabic may cause
Arabica Extracts on Bone Calcium Content | year=2013 | kidney and liver damage. Combining herbs with certain
url=http://citeweb.info/20132524083 | author=Nimisha drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side
Kakadia | author=Niranjan S. Kanaki}}) effects. Some it produces obstruction also.25 There are
no serious side effects. It is good to avoid babbula
The diaphysis (/da

æf
s
s/) is the main or during constipation.
midsection (shaft) of a long bone. It is made up of
cortical bone and usually contains bone marrow and Conclusion
adipose tissue (fat). It is a middle tubular part composed
of compact bone which surrounds a central marrow A. nilotica has been in use since ancient times to treat a
cavity which contains red or yellow marrow. wide range of diseases in traditional system medicine.
Experimental studies have proven its antidiabetic,
The metaphysis (/mət
æf
s
s/) is the wide portion of antihypertensive, antispasmodic, antibacterial,
a long bone between the epiphysis and the narrow antifungal activity, antiplaque, antioxidant,
diaphysis. It contains the growth plate, the part of the antiplasmodic, antiviral activity, catalytic and
bone that grows during childhood and as it grows, it galactagogue. Scientific studies have proven the claims
ossifies near the diaphysis and the epiphyses. of traditional system of medicine. Further, more
detailed clinical researches are needed to explore its
Substitute medicinal value in order to osteoporosis, it as a standard
drug.
Sandal sufaid (white sandal wood)21-24; masoor ki daal
(gram)10,22,23; rasaut (wild turmeric)22,23; sasaut is the Conflicts of interest: Nil
best substitute for pods21; dammul akhwain (dragon
blood)22. References
Parts Used and Dosage 1. Prasad G, Reshmi MV. A Manual of Agrosbios (India)
2007; 97-99.
Babool leaves, bark and fruit are beneficial 2. Chughtai HM, Chughtai H. Rehnumae Aqaqeer. New
therapeutically. Bark decoction 30–80 mL; bark powder Delhi: Aijaz Publishing House 229-39.
3–6 gm; leaves powder 3–6 gm; and fruit powder 3–6 3. Kirtikar KR, Basu BD. Indian Medicinal Plants.
gm. Dehradun: International Book Distributors 922.

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J. Adv. Res. Ayur. Yoga Unani Sidd. Homeo. 2017; 4(1&2) Kaushal K

4. Said HM. Hamdard Pharmacopeia of Eastern Medicinal Plants. New Delhi: NISCAIR Press 2000; 2:
Medicine. 2nd Edn. Delhi-India: Sri Satguru 51-53.
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353. Orissa. New Delhi: CCRUM 2001.
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Popular Prakashan Private Limited 2010; 9-10. medicinal plants with active principles. Part I (A-K).
6. Khare CP. Indian Medicinal Plants. New Delhi: New Delhi: NISCAIR and CSIR 2005; 10-11.
Springer (India) Private Limited 2007; 4-5. 18. Dymock W, Warden CJH, Hooper D.
7. Nadkarni KM. The Indian Plants and Drugs. New Pharmacographica Indica. A History of the principal
Delhi: Shrishti Book Distributors 2005; 4-5. drugs of vegetable origin. New Delhi: Shrishti Book
8. Anonymous. The Wealth of India, Raw materials. Distributors 2005; 1: 556.
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Medicine. 2nd Edn. New Delhi: Sri Satguru methanol extract of Acacia nilotica pods.
Publications 1997; 353~89. Journal of Phytotheraphy Research B 1999; 665.
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 20. Nishteswar K. Text Book of Dravyaguna (Part A,B).
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Date of Submission: 17th May 2017
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15. Chatterjee A, Pakrashi SC. The Treatise on Indian Date of Acceptance: 26th May 2017

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