Vachellia leucophloea

HABIT: It is a deciduous, middle size tree. Bark whitish. Leaves bipinnate, alternate, stipulate; stipular spines in pairs, grey, straight, puberulous.  Flowers are white or yellowish white, sessile, in heads arranged in terminal panicles.  Fruit is a pod  flat, strap-shaped, straight or sometimes curved, some what bullate along seeds, thin walled, round or often mucronate at apex, minutely brown tomentose. 

CONSERVATION STATUS: Evaluated as 'Least Concern' by IUCN.

MEDICINAL USES: Numerous epidemiological studies have found a link between phenolic-rich food consumption and a lower risk of developing chronic illnesses. All components of plants are traditionally employed against cancer, inflammation, ophthalmia, leprosy, and bleeding piles. The seeds' nutritional composition has also been studied, with fatty acids in the oil, proteins, and amino acids all found in the seeds. The leaves are thought to have hypotensive, CNS-depressant, antisyphlitic, and antimicrobial properties, while the gum is demulcent. 

(Imran, I., Hussain, L., Zia-Ul-Haq, M., Janbaz, K. H., Gilani, A. H., & De Feo, V. (2011). Gastrointestial and respiratory activities of Acacia leucophloea. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 138(3), 676-682.)

ETHNOBOTANICAL USES: Its leaves, tender shoots, and pods are readily consumed by goats, sheep and cattle. Acacia Leucophloea bark has a foul smell and its fibers are used to make fish nets and rough rope. Bark is used to purify liquor and yields a reddish-brown stain which is used for the preparation of dyes. Moreover, the bark is used against snake bites. Bark and leaves are used for treating renal edema, cardiac edema and indigestion. Leaf juice is administered to treat fever and, mixed with cow’s milk, to bleeding piles. 

(Khandekar, U. S. (2020). PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF EXTRACT OF ACACIA LEUCOPHLOEA PLANT. International Journal Of All Research Writings, 1(2), 59-61.)