Babul Chhal (Acacia arabica or Vachellia nilotica)

Babul Chhal (Acacia arabica or Vachellia nilotica) is a medicinal plant widely recognized in traditional systems of medicine for its astringent, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The bark of Babul has been used in Ayurveda, Unani, and folk medicine for oral health, wound healing, diarrhea, and skin diseases. It belongs to the Fabaceae family and is native to India, Africa, and the Middle East.

Acacia Scientific Name

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Vachellia
Species: Vachellia nilotica (syn. Acacia arabica)

Acacia Common Name

English: Gum Arabic Tree, Egyptian Thorn, Acacia
Sanskrit: Babool, Kikar, Babbula
Hindi: Babul, Kikar
Tamil: Karuvelamaram
Telugu: Nallatumma
Bengali: Babla
Marathi: Babhul

Acacia Uses

Oral and Dental Health - Used in dantadhavan (tooth cleansing) for treating bleeding gums, bad breath, and strengthening teeth.

Diarrhea and Dysentery - The bark decoction is administered to manage chronic diarrhea and dysentery due to its astringent and antimicrobial effects.

Wound Healing - Bark paste is applied to cuts and wounds to promote healing and prevent infection.

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-arthritic - Used in joint swelling and arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory compounds.

Skin Disorders - Effective in eczema, acne, and skin eruptions as it cleanses and soothes the skin.

Reproductive Health - Used traditionally as a vaginal astringent and uterine tonic.

Phytochemical Constituents

Babul Chhal contains various bioactive phytochemicals responsible for its therapeutic effects:

Tannins (15–20%): Catechin, epicatechin – provide astringent properties
Flavonoids: Quercetin, kaempferol – anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
Saponins: Hemolytic and antimicrobial activity
Phenolic Compounds: Gallic acid, ellagic acid
Gum: Polysaccharides from bark – demulcent and emollient
Alkaloids: Antimicrobial potential

References

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. II, Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH.

Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L., & Chopra, I.C. (1956). Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. CSIR, New Delhi.

Kirtikar, K.R., & Basu, B.D. (2006). Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol. II, Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh.

Singh, B., & Bhat, T.K. (2003). "Potential therapeutic applications of some antinutritional plant secondary metabolites." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 51(19), 5579–5597.

Ali, H., Qureshi, R.A., & Jabeen, N. (2010). "Ethnobotanical survey of some important plants of Cholistan desert, Punjab, Pakistan." Pakistan Journal of Botany, 42(1), 1167–1175.

The Wealth of India: A Dictionary of Indian Raw Materials and Industrial Products, Vol. I (A), CSIR, New Delhi.

European Medicines Agency (EMA). (2020). Assessment report on Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Delile, cortex. EMA/HMPC/247142/2020.