#herbcrafting

Gum arabic, also known as acacia gum,

“ is a natural gum consisting of the hardened sap of various species of the acacia tree. Originally, gum arabic was collected from Acacia nilotica which was called the "gum arabic tree"; in the present day, gum arabic is predominantly collected from two related species, namely Acacia senegal and Vachellia (Acacia) seyal. Producers harvest the gum commercially from wild trees, mostly in Sudan (80%) and throughout the Sahel, from Senegal to Somalia—though it is historically cultivated in Arabia and West Asia.

Gum arabic is a complex mixture of glycoproteins and polysaccharides. It is the original source of the sugars arabinose and ribose, both of which were first discovered and isolated from it, and are named after it.

Gum arabic is used primarily in the food industry as a stabilizer. It is edible and has E number E414. Gum arabic is a key ingredient in traditional lithography and is used in printing, paint production, glue, cosmetics and various industrial applications, including viscosity control in inks and in textile industries, though less expensive materials compete with it for many of these roles.

While gum arabic is now produced throughout the African Sahel, it is still harvested and used in the Middle East. For example, Arab populations use the natural gum to make a chilled, sweetened, and flavored gelato-like dessert.

Gum arabic's mixture of polysaccharides and glycoproteins gives it the properties of a glue and binder that is edible by humans. 

Also called acacia after the original source, gum arabic is used as an emulsifier and a thickening agent in icing, fillings, chewing gum and other confectionery.

Acacia gum reduces the surface tension of liquids, which leads to increased foaming in carbonated beverages. This can be exploited in what is known as a Diet Coke and Mentos eruption.  (this can also be interesting if you want to create your own fluid soap)

While acacia gum has been harvested in Arabia, Sudan, and West Asia since antiquity, sub-Saharan acacia gum has a long history as a prized export. 

Gum arabic slows the rate of absorption of some drugs, including amoxycillin, from the gut.

It is an important ingredient in shoe polish, and can be used in making homemade incense cones.”

It has more various uses.

Protects the kidneys * see research link 12419649

Anticancer (excerpt from research:” Accordingly, (Gum arabic   ) GA treatment counteracts the development of tumors following chemical cancerogenesis. “) *see research link 24022265

Helps relieve kidney failure,  increases creatinine clearance (excerpt from research:”  Gum arabic increased 24-h creatinine clearance (from 283 +/- 35 to 382 +/- 40 muL/min [SEM]) and urinary antidiuretic hormone excretion, and decreased daily urine output (from 1.8 +/- 0.2 to 1.2 +/- 0.1 mL/24 h) as well as the urinary excretion of Na(+) (from 226 +/- 22 to 196 +/- 19 mumol/24 h). “) *see research link 18267216 & /22473073

Protects the bladder against chemotherapy med Cyclophosphamide ( excerpt from research:” the AG + CYCL treated bladder where almost normal configuration and integrity of the tissues is visible. There is no sign of inflammation or lesions in this sample as against the CYCL-treated sample. GA treatment by itself did not produce any effect on the structural integrity of the bladder.   “) *see research link PMC2763258/

Can be an allergen /airway irritant *see research link PMC3124965/

Research and tips on Arabic gum:

The Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) aka

Black Currant Seed Oil, Cassis, European Black Currant, Feuille de Cassis, Gadelier Noir, Grosella Negra, Huile de Pépins de Cassis,  Nabar, Paper, Ribes Nigri Folium (Black Currant Leaf), Ribes Nero, Ribes nigrum, Svart vinbär, Mustaherukka

“is a woody shrub in the family Grossulariaceae grown for its piquant berries. It is native to temperate parts of central and northern Europe and northern Asia where it prefers damp fertile soils and is widely cultivated both commercially and domestically.

The blackcurrant is native to northern Europe and Asia. It was cultivated in Russia by the 11th century when it was present in monastery gardens and also grown in towns and settlements. Cultivation in Europe is thought to have started around the last decades of the 17th century. Decoction of the leaves, bark or roots was also used as traditional remedies.

Ribes nigrum, the blackcurrant, is a medium-sized shrub, growing to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) by 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). The leaves are alternate, simple, 3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2.0 in) broad and long with five palmate lobes and a serrated margin.

Blackcurrants can grow well on sandy or heavy loams, or forest soils, as long as their nutrient requirements are met. The blackcurrant is a gross feeder and benefits from additional nitrogen, and phosphatic and potash fertilisers should also be applied annually.It is winter hardy but cold weather at flowering time during the spring reduces the size of the crop.

The raw fruit is particularly rich in vitamin C and polyphenol phytochemicals. Blackcurrants can be eaten raw but are usually cooked in a variety of sweet or savoury dishes. They are used to make jams, jellies and syrups and are grown commercially for the juice market. The fruit is also used in the preparation of alcoholic beverages and both fruit and foliage have uses in traditional medicine and the preparation of dyes.”

 Note of caution:  Be careful of blackcurrant when having bleeding disorders.

Potent antioxidant (Excerpt  from research:” BCL ( blackcurrant leaves  )extract differs in polyphenolic composition from BCF (fruit)extract, where quercetin derivatives dominate, which constitute ca. 80% of the total polyphenols content of the extract. “) which means the berries are even more beneficial  *see research link 12009991 &   24742033  &  PMC3914294/

Anti-inflammatory  *see research link  PMC1198248/

Antiviral against influenza virus types A and B and 3 other strains; pandemic flu from 2009-2010 (IFV-AH1pdm), Hong Kong flu (IFV-AH3), oseltamivir phosphate-resistant Russian flu (IFV-AH1tamr)  (Excerpt from research:” Both IVA and IVB were directly inactivated up to 99% by 10 microgram/mL of the extract at pH 2.8, and 95% to 98% by this dose at pH 7.2…. Anthocyanins in the fraction F' did not directly inactivate influenza viruses A and B, but they inhibited virus adsorption to cells and also virus release from infected cells  “)  crude fruit extracts of wild Ribes nigrum L. was used  *see research link 12601672 & 11885927 &  /23842512

Antiviral against herpes simplex 1 & 2  that lip sore, up and down  (excerpt from research link:” The extract inhibited herpes simplex virus type 1 attachment on the cell membrane completely at a 100-fold dilution, as well as the plaque formation of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, and varicella-zoster virus by 50% at a 400-fold dilution or lower concentrations.  “)  *see research link 12820226

Blackcurrant anthocyanins act as phytoestrogens  ,the research results got beyond my understanding *see research link 26395027

Improves vascular health  and reduces high blood pressure & high cholesterol (Excerpt from research:” These observations lead to the conclusion that BLE (blackcurrant leaf extract)  may improve endothelial cell viability at low physiological concentrations without affecting the antiplatelet action of endothelium “) *see research link 25407137,  PMC4609398/

Antibacterial against Acinetobacter (A.) baumanii, Escherichia (E.) coli, Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginoasa and Staphylococcus (S.) aureus   *see research link 19706967

Research and tips on Blackcurrant:

One of my rosemary shrubs is getting ready for its first bloom of the year.  With the abundance of water and mild temps that come in the Pacific Northwest wintertime, I find this new growth to be some of the best to harvest for use as a cooking spice, incense or dream pillow blend.