A review on a medicinal tree Acacia nilotica Linn

Abstract

Acacia nilotica Linn. (Mimosaceae) indigenously known as ‘Babul’ or ‘Kikar’ is a proverbial, medium-sized tree and is broadly scattered in tropical and subtropical countries. Almost all its parts such as leaves, bark, roots, flowers, pods, gum, etc. are used in medication. This plant contributes several groups among which are alkaloids, volatile essential oils, phenols and phenolic glycosides, resins, oleosins, steroids, tannins and terpenes. Acacia nilotica is a medicinal plant acknowledged to be rich in phenolics, consisting of condensed tannin and phlobatannin, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, pyrocatechol, (+) -catechin, (-) epi- gallocatechin-7-gallate and (-) epigallocatechin-5, 7-digallate. Different parts of this plant such as the leaves, roots, seeds, bark, fruits, flowers, gum and immature pods act as anti-cancer, antimutagenic, spasmogenic, vasoconstrictor, antipyretic, anti-asthmatic, cytotoxic, anti-diabetic, anti-platelet, anti-plasmodial, anti-fungal, antioxidant activities, anti-bacterial, antihypertensive and anti-spasmodic activities. They are also engaged for the treatment of different ailments in the indigenous system of medicine. This review summarizes the information concerning the phytochemistry, biological activity and pharmacological properties of the Acacia nilotica Linn.