Vachellia nilotica
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64405a4f80837476825154 |
| Scientific name | Vachellia nilotica |
| Authority | (L.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb. |
| First published in | D.J.Mabberley, Plant-book, ed. 3: 1021 (2008) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Across the Sahel and northern tropical Africa the bark and young shoots of Vachellia nilotica have been prepared as mild teas and decoctions for gastrointestinal and febrile conditions. In Nigeria the Hausa drink a bark infusion to stop diarrhea and settle stomach cramps, while in Sudan a bark decoction is taken to reduce fever and dysentery. The Kanyawara healers of western Uganda steep the bark in water and give it to children with diarrhea and gastrointestinal complaints, and in the same region a light bark tea is taken for stomach pain and as an antimalarial tea. In South Asia, in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, the leaves are boiled in water and taken as a febrifuge tea, while in Tamil Nadu the leaves are used as a bitter tonic tea in the winter months and the seed or pod gum is widely incorporated into foods. Throughout the Arabian Peninsula the leaf infusion has been used as a bitter tonic for stomach complaints, and reports from the Horn of Africa describe a leaf tea as a fever-reducing drink. All of these preparations—leaf or bark teas and decoctions—are documented in long-running clinical ethnobotanical surveys of the Sahel (Burkill, 1995; Wickens, 1995; Heuzé & Thiollet, 2018).
One practical recipe for a mild fever‑reducing tea made from the bark is straightforward: use roughly 5 g of sun‑dried bark pieces per 250 ml of freshly boiled water, simmer gently for 10 minutes, then let stand off heat for another 10 minutes, strain, and drink up to a cup two or three times a day for 3–5 days. A leaf tea can be made from 2–3 g of fresh or 1 g of dried leaves steeped in 250 ml of hot water for 10–15 minutes, strained, and taken as a tonic for stomach upset up to twice daily. For a 1:5 tincture (by weight), macerate 100 g of dried bark in 500 ml of 45% ethanol for 4–6 weeks with daily shaking, press and filter, and keep amber‑capped. Use a standard 1 ml dose three times a day if needed. Doses and duration should follow traditional or clinical guidance, and children, pregnant or breastfeeding women should use Vachellia nilotica only under qualified supervision.
Active constituents reported for Vachellia nilotica include flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, and their glycosides, hydrolyzable tannins and gallotannins, phenolic acids including gallic and ellagic acids, and the triterpenoids lupeol and β‑sitosterol. These compound classes are well established in the species and plausibly account for the observed antidiarrheal, astringent, and anti‑inflammatory effects recorded in many of the preparations described above.
In modern times, Vachellia nilotica remains widely used in West, East, and South Asian ethnomedicine as a bark and leaf tea or decoction, and pharmacological studies continue to support some of its traditional indications (Bennett et al., 2021; Wichtl, 2004; ESCOP Monographs).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Gum arabic-type exudate (gum/nilotica gum) is harvested from trunk wounds; tannins are extracted from bark and seed pods; timber is sawn as heartwood; seed kernels yield oil and protein-rich meal after oil pressing.
Industrial and craft applications:
* Gum: Used as a hydrocolloid in food and pharmaceutical formulations. Pure gum arabic, rich in arabinogalactan proteins, forms a clear, stable mucilage with good emulsifying properties. It serves as a binding agent in tableting, encapsulation, and adhesives.
* Tannins: Bark and pod extracts are used in leather tanning. The high-molecular-weight polyphenols act as fixatives and improve leather strength, color, and water resistance.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
* Oil: Seed kernels yield edible oil suitable for cooking/frying, with a fatty acid profile dominated by linoleic and oleic acids.
* Meal: Defatted seed meal (after oil extraction) is a high-protein animal feed supplement.
Colorants and tanning:
* Tannins: Bark extracts yield natural brown dyes used for protein fibers (wool, silk). Extracted tannins are used in leather tanning as specified above.
Wood and fiber:
* Timber: Dense, durable heartwood is valued for furniture, joinery, tool handles, and construction where strength and resistance to insects/decay are critical.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented uses found.
Properties relevant to use:
* Gum: Contains Arabica-galactan polysaccharide-protein complexes; soluble in cold water; high viscosity at low concentrations; excellent emulsification due to protein fraction.
* Tannins: High-molecular-weight hydrolyzable tannins (~70% gallotannins in bark), characterized by high astringency and binding capacity to proteins.
* Oil: Seed oil typically contains ~50–55% linoleic acid and ~25–30% oleic acid; high protein content (25–35%) in seed meal.
* Timber: High density (typically 0.7–0.9 g/cm³); high tannin content contributes to natural durability.
Standards and regulation:
Gum quality standards: *Gum arabic* (specification: ISO 8755:2001); Food-grade uses regulated by national food additive codes (e.g., E414). Leather tanning tannins may fall under restrictions on tannery effluent. Timber grading follows local forestry standards.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Gum is harvested from wild or semi-cultivated trees; sustainable practices focus on non-destructive tapping and avoiding over-exploitation. Tanning extracts and timber require management plans for long-term supply; over-harvesting of bark may harm trees. Seed-based products depend on agricultural yields.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Mimosa nilotica | L. | Sp. Pl.: 521 (1753) |
| Acacia nilotica | (L.) Willd. ex Delile | Descr. Egypte, Hist. Nat.2(Mém.): 79 (1813) |
| Acacia nilotica subsp. nilotica | (L.) Delile | |
| Gumifera nilotica | (L.) Raf. | Sylva Tellur.: 118 (1838) |
| Mimosa nilotica | Thunb. | Prodr. Pl. Cap. 2: 92. 1800 |
| Acacia arabica var. nilotica | (L.) Benth. | London J. Bot.1: 500 (1842) |
| Acacia scorpioides var. nilotica | (L.) A.Chev. | Bull. Soc. Bot. France74: 954 (1927) |
| Acacia bambolah | H.Karst. | Deut. Fl. (Karsten), ed. 2 2: 278 (1894) |
| Acacia nilotica var. typica | A.F.Hill | Bot. Mus. Leafl. 8: 98 (1940) |
| Acacia nilotica var. vera | Roberty | Candollea 11: 149 (1948) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | egyptian acacia |
| English | thorn mimosa |
| English | thorny acacia |
| English | babul |
| English | gum arabic tree |
| Afrikaans | lekkerruikpeul |
| Arabic | سنط عربي |
| Bulgarian | нилска акация |
| bho | बबुर |
| bho | बब्बुर |
| Bengali | বাবলা আঠা গাছ |
| Bengali | বাবলা |
| Czech | akácie arabská |
| Finnish | hartsiakaasia |
| Hebrew | שיטת הנילוס |
| Hindi | बबूल |
| Hindi | कीकर |
| Japanese | バブール |
| Japanese | アラビアゴムモドキ |
| Kannada | ವಾಚೆಲಿಯಾ ನಿಲೋಟಿಕಾ |
| Malayalam | കരിവേലം |
| Marathi | गावठी बाभूळ |
| Burmese | ဆူးဖြူ |
| Tamil | கருவமரம் |
| Tamil | கருவேலமரம் |
| Urdu | کیکر |
| Walloon | acacia do nil |
| Chinese | 阿拉伯金合欢 |
| Chinese | 阿拉伯金合歡 |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Vachellia nilotica subsp. adstringens | (Schumach.) Kyal. & Boatwr. | Bot. J. Linn. Soc.172: 515 (2013) |
| Vachellia nilotica subsp. cupressiformis | (J.L.Stewart) Ali | Pakistan J. Bot.46: 2 (2014) |
| Vachellia nilotica subsp. hemispherica | (Ali & Faruqi) Ali | Pakistan J. Bot.46: 2 (2014) |
| Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica | (Benth.) Kyal. & Boatwr. | Bot. J. Linn. Soc.172: 515 (2013) |
| Vachellia nilotica subsp. kraussiana | (Benth.) Kyal. & Boatwr. | Bot. J. Linn. Soc.172: 515 (2013) |
| Vachellia nilotica subsp. leiocarpa | (Brenan) Kyal. & Boatwr. | Bot. J. Linn. Soc.172: 515 (2013) |
| Vachellia nilotica subsp. nilotica | Unknown | |
| Vachellia nilotica subsp. subalata | (Vatke) Kyal. & Boatwr. | Bot. J. Linn. Soc.172: 515 (2013) |
| Vachellia nilotica subsp. tomentosa | (Benth.) Kyal. & Boatwr. | Bot. J. Linn. Soc.172: 515 (2013) |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
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Macaronesia
- Cape Verde
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Northeast Tropical Africa
- Chad
- Djibouti
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Somalia
- Sudan
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Egypt
- Libya
- Morocco
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South Tropical Africa
- Angola
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
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Southern Africa
- Botswana
- Caprivi Strip
- Kwazulu-Natal
- Namibia
- Northern Provinces
- Swaziland
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West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Togo
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
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Western Indian Ocean
- Madagascar
- Mauritius
- Rodrigues
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East Tropical Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Arabian Peninsula
- Gulf States
- Oman
- Saudi Arabia
- Yemen
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Western Asia
- Iran
- Iraq
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Arabian Peninsula
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- West Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Andaman Islands
- Myanmar
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Papuasia
- New Guinea
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Western Australia
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Australia
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Southwest
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- California
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Mexico
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Pacific click to expand
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Southwestern Pacific
- New Caledonia
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Southwestern Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Cuba
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Windward Islands
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Ecuador
- Galápagos
- Peru
-
Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001284776 |
| Tropicos | 50325057 |
| INPN | 639351 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77089275-1 |
| The Plant List | tro-50325057 |
| PFAF | Vachellia nilotica |
| Open Tree Of Life | 60610 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 138033 |
| IUCN Red List | 158379 |
| IPNI | 77089275-1 |
| iNaturalist | 557826 |
| GBIF | 3974744 |
| Freebase | /m/026s85y |
| USDA GRIN | 465206 |
| Wikipedia | Vachellia_nilotica |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids | |||||
| Gallic Acid | 370 | Click to see | 170.12 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969797 |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Galloyl esters | |||||
| Methyl Gallate | 7428 | Click to see | 184.15 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962094 |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Benzenediols / Catechols | |||||
| Catechol | 289 | Click to see | 110.11 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969797 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acid esters / Wax esters / Wax monoesters | |||||
| Dihexadecyl pentacosanedioate | 162862117 | Click to see | 861.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200639218 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Octadecenoic acid | 5282750 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC=CC(=O)O | 282.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02901545 |
| Pentadecanoic Acid | 13849 | Click to see | 242.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02901545 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| (2R,3S)-heptacosane-1,2,3-triol | 162890451 | Click to see | 428.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200639218 |
| Heptacosane-1,2,3-triol | 123255612 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(C(CO)O)O | 428.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200639218 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Isocopalane and spongiane diterpenoids | |||||
| (3R,4aS,4bS,7S,8aR,10aR)-2-ethenyl-3,7-dihydroxy-1,4b,8,8-tetramethyl-4a,5,6,7,8a,9,10,10a-octahydro-3H-phenanthren-4-one | 162870000 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JEP.2010.01.057 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroid esters | |||||
| 17-Hydroxyandrost-5-en-3-yl acetate | 519264 | Click to see | 332.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-38482 |
| Androstenediol 3-acetate | 102150 | Click to see CC(=O)OC1CCC2(C3CCC4(C(C3CC=C2C1)CCC4O)C)C | 332.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-38482 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (3S)-17-[(5S)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 6745 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JEP.2012.03.014 |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JEP.2012.03.014 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Inositol phosphates | |||||
| Phytic acid | 890 | Click to see C1(C(C(C(C(C1OP(=O)(O)O)OP(=O)(O)O)OP(=O)(O)O)OP(=O)(O)O)OP(=O)(O)O)OP(=O)(O)O | 660.04 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-8146(95)00238-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-8146(95)00238-3 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Depsides and depsidones | |||||
| Digallic Acid | 341 | Click to see | 322.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol | 1203 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 |
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969797 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962094 |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969797 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Catechin gallates | |||||
| [(2R,3S)-3,7-dihydroxy-2-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-5-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate | 56649355 | Click to see | 458.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 |
| [2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-7-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate | 85446110 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85134-L |
| [2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-5-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate | 21872046 | Click to see | 442.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85134-L https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 |
| [3,7-dihydroxy-2-[4-hydroxy-3-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxyphenyl]-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-5-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate | 85446108 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85134-L |
| [4-[3,7-dihydroxy-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-2-yl]-2-hydroxyphenyl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate | 85446109 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85134-L |
| Catechin 5-O-gallate | 15689618 | Click to see | 442.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85134-L |
| Catechin 5,3'-di-O-gallate | 15689619 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85134-L |
| Catechin 5,4'-di-O-gallate | 15689620 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85134-L |
| Catechin 5,7,-di-O-gallate | 15689621 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)85134-L |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| (+-)-Naringenin | 932 | Click to see | 272.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962094 |
| (2R)-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-4H-chromen-4-one | 667495 | Click to see C1C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O | 272.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962094 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969797 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Pyranoflavonoids | |||||
| 3,8-dihydroxy-2,10-dimethoxy-5H-isochromeno[4,3-b]chromen-7-one | 162879074 | Click to see | 342.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0029-1186226 |
| 8-hydroxy-2,3,10-trimethoxy-5H-isochromeno[4,3-b]chromen-7-one | 162948308 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C2C(=C1)OC3=C(C2=O)OCC4=CC(=C(C=C43)OC)OC)O | 356.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0029-1186226 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins | |||||
| (3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl) 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate | 4628122 | Click to see | 332.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 |
| 1,6-bis-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose | 440221 | Click to see | 484.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 |
| 1,6-Digalloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose | 3332212 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC(=O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)O)O)O | 484.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 |
| beta-Glucogallin | 124021 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 332.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2011.08.020 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |