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Botanical illustration of Indian Gum
MedicinalSourced entry

Indian Gum

Vachellia nilotica

Babul, a thorny acacia whose gum, bark and pods are used in traditional medicine, and the most widely used acacia for treating livestock in Africa.

Safety at a glance

  • PregnancyNothing recorded
  • BreastfeedingNothing recorded
  • MedicinesNothing recorded
  • Who should avoid itNothing recorded
  • AllergiesNothing recorded
  • Toxicity1 note →

Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.

What is Indian Gum?

Plant family
Fabaceae, the pea and bean family
Parts used
The gum, bark, pods and fruit
Where it grows
Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent
Genus
Vachellia
Species
nilotica

Also called

Babul

Older scientific names

Acacia nilotica

Traditionally used for

  • Traditional medicine
  • Livestock health

Traditionally described as

  • Rich in tannins; gum used as a medicine binder

Traditions that use it

Safety

Toxicity testing

  • In male rats given babul for 16 weeks, sperm count and movement fell and testosterone dropped. Sperm didn't recover after it was stopped.[1]Study

What does the research say?

Traditional use

These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.

  • The fruit, bark and pods of babul have long been used in traditional medicine. They are rich in tannins.[2]Study

  • In Africa, babul is the most widely used acacia for treating livestock, against infections, inflammation and parasites.[3]Review or trial

Laboratory & animal research

Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.

  • In lab tests, a fruit extract was a strong antioxidant, killed some bacteria and fungi, and harmed breast, prostate and bowel cancer cells more than normal cells.[2]Study

  • Babul gum swells and binds well, and has been tested as a natural ingredient for making slow-release medicine beads.[4]Study

In short

Lowered sperm count and testosterone in male rats.

Sources

  1. [1] The Anti-fertility Effects of Acacia nilotica in Male Wistar RatsPeer-reviewed study
  2. [2] Selective anticancer activity of Vachellia nilotica fruit extract: integrated phytochemistry with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cancer cell targeting · DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1799072Peer-reviewed study
  3. [3] Ethnoveterinary Potential of Acacia (Vachellia and Senegalia) Species for Managing Livestock Health in Africa: From Traditional Uses to Therapeutic Applications · DOI: 10.3390/plants14193107Review or clinical trial
  4. [4] Formulation and evaluation of microsphere of antiulcer drug using Acacia nilotica gumPeer-reviewed study

This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.