Senegalia senegal

HABIT: Senegalia senegal is a low-growing, thorny, deciduous shrub or small tree with a rounded canopy; it can grow up to 15 metres tall.  The bole is usually very short, with branches being produced from near ground level. The tree bears short, black prickles, normally in threes, with the central one curved downwards. 

CONSERVATION STATUS: Evaluated as 'Not Evaluated' by IUCN.

MEDICINAL USES: In recent studies, extracts of A. senegal and A. seyal have shown good activity against many agents responsible for infectious diseases and have interesting chemical components such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, or terpenes recognized as having a strong antibacterial potential. There is no study regarding possible adjuvant propriety of their extracts and their capability to permeabilize the bacterial membrane.

(Magnini, R. D., Hilou, A., Millogo-Koné, H., Pagès, J. M., & Davin-Regli, A. (2020). Acacia senegal extract rejuvenates the activity of phenicols on selected enterobacteriaceae multi drug resistant strains. Antibiotics, 9(6), 323.)

ETHNOBOTANICAL USES: Preclinical data on traditional uses show that A. senegal treats respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, stomach aches, hemorrhoids, ulcers, trypanosomiasis, sexually transmitted diseases, wounds, malaria, abscesses, and boils. Another traditional healer treats dysentery, gastrointestinal pain, leprosy, nervous sensory and digestive disorders, toothache, rheumatism, stomach ulcers, jaundice, intestinal parasites, and syphilis by roots, leaves, barks, and gum of A. seyal. Despite A. senegal's commercial, industrial, agricultural, and ecological importance, this tree still remains under-utilized in African drylands. This under-utilization is attributed to a lack of knowledge of production systems and also to the fact that there are relatively few seed sources. Nonetheless, A. senegal has been a successful crop in agroforestry systems in the Sudan and several West African nations.

(Magnini, R. D., Hilou, A., Millogo-Koné, H., Pagès, J. M., & Davin-Regli, A. (2020). Acacia senegal extract rejuvenates the activity of phenicols on selected enterobacteriaceae multi drug resistant strains. Antibiotics, 9(6), 323.)