There are several different species of acacia that produce substances, including Arab gum is actually a product of the Senegalese acacia (Acacia senegal), a common plant in the arid tropics of West Africa, from Senegal to northern Nigeria.
Acacia arabica is the “Arabian acacia” in India, but they produce lower quality gum than real Arabic gum. Acacia arabica bark is used in Sindh for tanning. In Ayurveda medicine, this bark is considered a useful remedy for the treatment of premature ejaculation.
The bark of different species of acacia is rich in tannin and an important export item; The species with the greatest value are Acacia pycnantha (yellow acacia), Acacia decurrens (acacia bark), Acacia dealbata (silver acacia) and Acacia mearnsii (black acacia). Black acacia is cultivated in South Africa. The fruit of Acacia nilotica (called “neb-neb” in the native language), another African species is also rich in tannin and is also used by tanners.
In addition, some species provide valuable timber; for example Acacia melanoxylon (black wood acacia) in Australia, they are large tree species; Their wood is used to make furniture and highly polished products; or Acacia homalophylla (Myall wood, also in Australia) produces scented wood, used for ornamental purposes. Acacia formosa offers a valuable Cuban wood called “sabicu”. Acacia seyal is considered to be the acacia (shitta) that appeared in the Bible and provided the wood shitta. It was used in the production of the Jewish Dharma box. As a spiritual symbol, it is also one of the most powerful symbols in Freemasonry, representing the soul of God and purity of soul. Acacia heterophylla from Réunion Island and Acacia koa (Hawaiian acacia) from the Hawaiian Islands are valuable timber species. In Vietnam, Acacia mangium and Acacia auriculiformis are grown as raw materials for paper production and forest rehabilitation. Acacia farnesiana is used in perfumery industry because of its strong fragrance.
The astringent in medicine, rubber (catechu), is obtained from some species, but especially in Acacia catechu, by boiling wood and evaporating the solution to obtain the extract