ACACIA NILOTICA AS MULTI-PURPOSE MEDICINAL PLANT: A COMPLETE REVIEW OF ITS BIOACTIVE PROPERTIES

Babul (Acacia nilotica), also known as Egyptian thorn or Indian gum arabic tree, is a traditional medicinal plant from the Fabaceae family. It is a highly valued medicinal plant extensively utilized in traditional systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, and African folk medicine. This review highlights its diverse phytochemical constituents-primarily tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and phenolic compounds-which are responsible for its wide range of pharmacological effects. Different parts of the plant, including bark, leaves, pods, seeds, and gum, exhibit significant antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and antiparasitic activities. Beyond therapeutic applications, Acacia nilotica also plays an important role in agroforestry, food preservation, and environmental sustainability. Although preclinical research strongly supports its medicinal potential, challenges related to standardization, dosage optimization, toxicity assessment, and clinical validation remain. Therefore, further studies focusing on bioactive compound isolation and advanced formulation development are necessary to establish Acacia nilotica as a reliable phytopharmaceutical candidate. Overall, it represents a promising natural resource for developing cost effective and ecofriendly therapeutic agents.