Chemical Composition, Physical Properties, Nutritional Value, Bioactive Compounds Content and Biological Activities of Gum Arabic (Acacia seyal)

The present study aims to determine the chemical composition, physical properties, nutritional value, bioactive compounds content and biological activities of the gum arabic (Acacia seyal) collected from Sudan Republic. The extractive value for gum arabic (GA) in different organic solvents was very low (0.065-1.942%) while very high in water (16.052-16.921%). The contents of moisture, total protein, crude fat, crude fiber, ash and carbohydrates content of GA were 10.32, 2.87, 0.15, 81.45, 2.63 and 2.85%, respectively. Also, the total energy (Kcal/100g), the daily requirement of adult man for protein (GDR/protein) and energy (GDR/energy) , percent satisfaction of the daily requirements of adult man in protein (P.S./protein) and energy (P.S./energy) which recorded 23.15, 2195, 12527, 4.56 and 0.80, respectively. Furhermore, bioactive compounds content of GA powder indicated that polysaccharides were the most largest compound (211.53± 10.43mg starch equvalent. g-1) followed by phenolics (43.98 ± 1.76 mg gallic acid equvalent. g-1), and flavonoids (10.23 ± 0.34 mg catechin equivalent. g-1). Also, GA was e richen in dietary fiber (74.45± 3.21g/100g). The samples also recorded several very high biological activities which include antioxidant and radicals scavenging activities. Such important bioactive compounds content and biological effects of GA could play important roles in strategies to combat/treat many diseases, especially those for which oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms for its occurrence i.e. obesity, diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis etc. Therefore, the present study recommended like of that GA powder and/or extracts to be included in our daily diets, drinks, food supplementation and pharmacological formulae.