Acacia nilotica or Vachellianilotica is a tree 5–20 m high with a dense spheric crown, stems and branches usually dark to black coloured, fissured bark, grey-pinkish slash, exuding a reddish low quality gum. The tree has thin, straight, light, grey spines in axillary pairs, usually in 3 to 12 pairs, 5 to 7.5 cm (3 in) long in young trees, mature trees commonly without thorns. The leaves are bipinnate, with 3–6 pairs of pinnulae and 10–30 pairs of leaflets each, tomentose, rachis with a gland at the bottom of the last pair of pinnulae. Flowers in globulous heads 1.2–1.5 cm in diameter of a bright golden-yellow color, set up either axillary or whorly on peduncles 2–3 cm long located at the end of the branches. Pods are strongly constricted, hairy, white-grey, thick and softly tomentose. Its seeds number approximately 8000/kg.
Chemical composition :
Acacia is a varied genus including a variety of bioactive components such as alkaloids flavonoids terpenoids phenolic compounds, and tannins , which are accountable for various pharmacological and biological properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antiplatelet, A. nilotica leaf extracts revealed that it contains volatile oil, saponins, hydrolysable tannin, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoid, phenol, alkaloids which are actual important compounds when regarding the pharmacologically bioactive phytochemicals in the plant.
Properties :
• Rasa- Kashaya
• Virya – Sheeta
• Guna – Guru , Ruksha
• Vipak – Katu
• Karma- Kaphhara
Benefits :
1.For oral health
Babool is considered as one of the best Ayurvedic herbs for maintaining oral health. Regular use of Babool helps to strengthen gums, teeth, and reduces plaque formation and gingival inflammation.