Class (98) = Carbohydrate Containing Drug (Part 04 ) | Acacia (Source, Preparation, Chemistry & Use)

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ACACIA GUM
Synonyms
Acacia gum, Yellow thorn, Indian Gum and Gum Arabic.

Biological Source
According to the USP, acacia is the dried gummy exuda-tion obtained from the stems and branches of Acacia senegal (L.) Willd or other African species of Acacia. In India, it is found as dried gummy exudation obtained from the stems and branches of Acacia arabica Willd, belonging to family Leguminosae

Preparation
Gum is collected by natives from 6 to 8 years old trees, twice a year in dry weather in November or in February— March. After injury in winter gum exudes after 6–8 weeks while in summer after 3–4 weeks. The exuded gum is scraped off, collected in leather bags and then is cleaned by separating debris of bark and wood and separating sand, etc., by sieving.Gum is dried in the sun for about 3 weeks when bleaching takes place and it becomes whiter. This process is called ripening of the gum.

Chemical constituents
Acacia consists principally of arabin, which is a complex mixture of calcium, magnesium and potassium salts of arabic acid. Arabic acid is a branched polysaccharide that yields L-arabinose, D-galactose, D-glucuronic acid and L-rhamnose on hydrolysis. 1, 3-


Chemical Tests
1. Lead acetate test: An aqueous solution of acacia when treated with lead acetate solution yields a heavy white precipitate.

2. Reducing sugars test: Hydrolysis of an aqueous solution of acacia with dilute HC1 yields reducing sugars whose presence are ascertained by boiling with Fehling’s solution to give a brick-red precipitate of cuprous oxide.

3. Blue colouration due to enzyme: When the aqueous solution of acacia is treated with benzidine in alcohol together with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), it gives rise to a distinct blue colour due to the presence of oxidases enzyme.

5. Specific test: A 10% aqueous solution of acacia fails to produce any precipitate with dilute solution of lead acetate (a clear distinction from Agar and Tragacanth); it does not give any colour change with Iodine solution (a marked distinction from starch and dextrin); and it never produces a bluish-black colour with FeCl3 solution (an apparent distinction from tannins).

Uses
1. The mucilage of acacia is employed as a demulcent.
2. It is used extensively as a vital pharmaceutical aid for emulsification and to serve as a thickening agent.
3. It finds its enormous application as a binding agent for tablets, for example, cough lozenges. It is used in the process of ‘granulation’ for the manufacturing of tablets.
4. It is considered to be the gum of choice by virtue of the fact that it is quite com-patible with other plant hydrocolloids as well as starches, carbohydrates and proteins.
5. It is used in combination with gelatin to form conservates for micro-encapsulation of drugs.
6. It is used extensively in making of candy and other food products.
7. It is used in the manufacture of adhesives and ink, and as a binding medium for marbling colours.

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