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PubMed2006

Traditional and Acacia colei seed-incorporated diets in Maradi, Niger Republic.

A survey of dietary habits of 83 male and 35 female volunteers from rural villages around Maradi, southern Niger, revealed that fura and tuwo were basic staples, the former being consumed up to 21 times weekly and the latter about once daily. Local recipes were modified to incorporate a prospective new food, Acacia colei seed flour, at 0, 15 and 25% (w/w) and the resulting diets fed ad libitum to volunteers for three weeks under controlled conditions. Acacia incorporation at 25% increased the crude protein content of most meals and the per capita crude protein intake to 136 g/day, 56% above the control. Lipid intake was similar in the three trial groups. Dietary fibre intake and per capita energy consumption for the 25% acacia diet was 93% and 18% above the control respectively. Daily vitamin consumption was above RDA from all the diets. The results showed that the supplementation of the traditional foods of the people of Maradi with acacia increased the nutritional value of each food.

Acacia↗
PubMed1982

Intestinal obstruction and perforation caused by undigested Acacia sp leaves in langur monkeys.

During a 2-week period, 3 hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus) died from severe fibrinopurulent and proliferative peritonitis. Partially digested plant material was identified in the necrotic abdominal debris of the 1st and 2nd langurs. In the 3rd, a phytobezoar that extended 17.5 cm distally from the pyloric area had caused a 1-cm perforation. Seven months later, surgery was performed on a douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus) to remove 1 gastric and 2 intestinal phytobezoars composed primarily of undigested Acacia sp leaves. An analysis of Acacia sp leaves consumed by these langurs revealed a high cell wall concentration (40%, dry basis), with an exceedingly high proportion of this cell wall composed of indigestible lignin. It was concluded that the species of acacia (Acacia saligna and A longifolia) fed in these cases are inappropriate browse items for langurs.

Acacia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acacias and aesculapius. Australian native wattles and the doctors they commemorate.

Acacias have had significant pharmacological, nutritive and toxicological associations with medicine since before recorded history, an interplay which continues to the present day. One of the most ubiquitous and loved symbols of Australia, and of Australian life and lore, indigenous wattles have also figured in the lives and memorials of medical practitioners. Some 20 indigenous Acacia species bear the names of medical explorers and clinical pioneers. This article documents some of the medical and related uses of Acacia by European and Aboriginal Australians and the evolution from this of a colonial herbal pharmacopoeia. It also gives brief précis and illustrations of the medical practitioners whose lives and works are immortalised in Australian native species of Acacia.

Acacia↗
PubMed1994

Isolation and sequence analysis of a gene from the linear DNA plasmid pPacl-2 of Pichia acaciae that shows similarity to a killer toxin gene of Kluyveromyces lactis.

The toxin-encoding linear plasmid systems found in Pichia acaciae and Kluyveromyces lactis yeasts appear to be quite similar, both in function and structural organization. By Southern hybridization, a linear plasmid of P. acaciae, pPacl-2, was found to hybridize to the second open reading frame (ORF2) of K. lactis plasmid pGKL1, known to encode the alpha and beta subunits of the K. lactis toxin. A 1.7 kbp segment of pPacl-2 DNA was cloned, sequenced and shown to contain four regions of strong homology to four similarly oriented regions of K. lactis ORF2. This 1.7 kbp fragment also contained an ORF of 1473 bp that could encode a protein of approximately 55.8 kDa. Like the alpha subunit gene of K. lactis ORF2, a very hydrophobic region occurs at the N-terminus, perhaps representing a signal sequence for transport out of the cell. Unlike K. lactis ORF2, however, the encoded polypeptide is much smaller and lacks a recognizable domain common to chitinases. The structure of a toxin that includes the translation product of this P. acaciae ORF would likely be quite different from that of the K. lactis toxin. Analysis of the upstream region of the P. acaciae ORF revealed an upstream conserved sequence identical to that found before ORFs 8 and 9 of pGKL2. A possible hairpin loop structure, as has been described for each of the four K. lactis pGKL1 ORFs, was found just upstream of the presumed start codon. The similarity of the promoter-like elements found in the linear plasmid genes of these diverse yeasts reinforces the idea of the existence of a unique, but highly conserved, expression system for these novel plasmids. The sequence has been deposited in the GenBank data library under Accession Number U02596.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

In vitro prebiotic effects of Acacia gums onto the human intestinal microbiota depends on both botanical origin and environmental pH.

Acacia gums are commonly used food additives. It is currently unclear how extensively these non-digestible polysaccharides are fermented in the human large intestine. However, they have been shown to support bifidobacterial growth in vitro and may represent useful candidate prebiotics. In these investigations, in vitro 24-h batch incubations and chemostat continuous-cultures of human faecal bacteria were conducted using two acacia gums (Fibregum standard and Fibregum AS). Our aim was to study the effects of these gums on bacterial ecology and fermentation in the large bowel. Fructooligosaccharides (Actilight-950P) were also investigated as a reference. Both Acacia gums were extensively fermented by intestinal flora although there were marked differences in fermentation product formation and ecological effects, probably due to their differing botanical origins and/or biochemical characteristics. In particular, fermentation of Fibregum AS led to significantly higher proportions of propionate both in batch and chemostat experiments. Both gums decreased Clostridium sp. levels but only Fibregum-standard induced higher Lactobacillus sp. counts compared to control. These bacterial modifications were highly dependent of the operating pH of the fermentation system with acidic conditions promoting both the prebiotic and the butyrogenic effects of fructooligosaccharides. In these studies, we have demonstrated that, similarly to fructooligosaccharides, Acacia gums can exert putatively beneficial effects on host health through both the improvement of the composition of the large intestine microflora and SCFA formation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Allelopathic potential of Robinia pseudo-acacia L.

Robinia pseudo-acacia L. (black locust) is a nonindigenous species currently invading the central part of Japanese grasslands. Several allelochemicals were identified and characterized from the leaf tissue. The growth of both radicle and hypocotyl in the tested species (barnyard grass, white clover, lettuce, and Chinese cabbage) was reduced when grown in soil mixed with the leaves of R. pseudo-acacia at various concentrations. Aqueous leaf extracts, when bioassayed, exhibited a significant suppression of radicle growth. Chromatographic separation of an ethanolic extract of R. pseudo-acacia leaves resulted in isolation of three compounds, identified as robinetin (1), myricetin (2), and quercetin (3) by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy. All inhibited root and shoot growth of lettuce. Robinetin, found in a large amount, caused 50% suppression of the root and shoot growth of lettuce at 100 ppm. The presence of these bioactive substances in leaf tissue suggests a potential role for flavonoids in R. pseudo-acacia invasion in introduced habitats.

Crops, Agricultural↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Whole-tree transpiration and water-use partitioning between Eucalyptus nitens and Acacia dealbata weeds in a short-rotation plantation in northeastern Tasmania.

Whole-tree water use in 4- and 8-year-old plantations of Eucalyptus nitens Deane and Maiden (ex Maiden) in the presence and absence of Acacia dealbata Link. weeds was estimated by the heat pulse velocity technique during a six-week summer period. Maximum sap velocities were recorded between 5 and 15 mm under the cambium for both eucalypt and acacia trees, and marked radial and axial variations in sap velocity were observed. The latter source of variation was most pronounced in mixed stands where crowns were asymmetrical. Mean daily sap flux ranged from 1.4 to 103.6 l day(-1) for eucalypts and from < 0.1 to 8.4 l day(-1) for acacias. Stem diameter explained 98% of the variation in sapwood area for E. nitens and 89% for A. dealbata, and was determined to be a suitable parameter for scaling water use from the tree to stand level. Plot transpiration varied from 1.4 to 2.8 mm day(-1) in mixed 8-year-old plots and was 0.85 mm day(-1) in a mixed 4-year-old plot. The degree of A. dealbata infestation was associated with absolute plot water use and regression models predicted that, in the absence of acacia competition, plot water use for the 8-year-old stand would approach 5-6 mm day(-1) during the growing season.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

The linear-plasmid-encoded toxin produced by the yeast Pichia acaciae: characterization and comparison with the toxin of Kluyveromyces lactis.

The toxin produced by Pichia acaciae was purified and its properties compared to those of the toxin from Kluyveromyces lactis. Like this toxin, the P. acaciae toxin is a protein comprised of three subunits (molecular masses 110, 39 and 38 kDa) with an associated chitinase activity and a pH optimum between 7.0 and 7.5. P. acaciae toxin also caused G1 cell cycle arrest. Of the thirteen recessive alleles that provided resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to K. lactis toxin, only three also conferred resistance to P. acaciae toxin. Similarities and differences in the interactions of the two toxins with yeast cells are discussed.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMed2001

Copper and lead bioaccumulation by Acacia retinoides and Eucalyptus torquata in sites contaminated as a consequence of extensive ancient mining activities in Cyprus.

Aspects of the industrial archaeology of the northwestern part of the island of Cyprus are outlined. Wastes resultant from copper mining activities of approximately two millennia ago continue to exert an important influence on organisms. Detailed chemical analysis of two tree species growing on archaeologically important metalliferous spoil tips has indicated their ability to bioaccumulate heavy metals and sulfur primarily from the substratum; the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of lead and sulfur are particularly marked in both Acacia and Eucalyptus. The concentrations of elements in different parts of the two tree species are discussed and partitioning is noted together with the fact that while the pod of Acacia and the fruit capsule of Eucalyptus may have an enhanced metal loading, the values in the seeds are much reduced; the importance of this is discussed. The seeds of Acacia differ chemically from those of Eucalyptus. The importance of these plants as biomonitors of environmental quality is noted.

Acacia↗
PubMed1993

Dry Acacia sieberiana pods as a supplement to a low quality forage diet for growing lambs in northern Nigeria.

Twenty yearling lambs of mixed breed were grouped according to initial liveweight (20 +/- 2.7 kg), and each group was offered one of 5 concentrate rations as a supplement to a low quality, dry season Andropogon gayanus hay. Voluntary food intake and liveweight change were monitored over a 56 day growth period, after which 5 of the lambs were transferred to metabolism crates, in which digestibility and nitrogen balance studies were carried out. Ground Acacia sieberiana pods were substituted for maize offal in the experimental diets A, B, C, D and E at 0%, 15%, 30%, 45% and 60% respectively. Mean group intakes and growth rates were (913, 964, 1020, 1128 and 1004 g conc. DM/day) and (111, 120, 149, 165 and 119 g liveweight gain/day) respectively. A decline in both intake and growth rate were recorded as the level of A. sieberiana was increased beyond 45% of the supplement. This corresponded to a daily dry matter intake of Acacia pods in excess of 500 g, or 43 g/kg W0.75. This decline may have been due to the toxic effects of the phenolic compounds present in Acacia. It appears that up to a certain critical level of intake, A. sieberiana is able to support growth rates equal to or better than those obtained when feeding maize offal to lambs. This makes A. sieberiana an attractive low cost alternative, supplementary feed during the dry season.

Acacia↗
PubMed2005

Properties of resorcinol-tannin-formaldehyde copolymer resins prepared from the bark extracts of Taiwan acacia and China fir.

Resorcinol-tannin-formaldehyde copolymer resins (RTF) were prepared by using the bark extracts of Taiwan acacia (Acacia confusa) and China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) to substitute part of the resorcinol. From the results, the content of reactive phenolic materials in Taiwan acacia and China fir bark extracts were 51.6% and 46.5%, respectively. Aromatic compounds were the main components in the bark extracts showed by FT-IR analysis. The conventional synthesis condition used for RF resin was certainly not suitable for the RTF copolymer resin. It should be formed the novolak RF prepolymer by reacting the resorcinol with formaldehyde at the first stage, and then the bark extracts added and underwent the copolymerization reaction under acidic condition at the second-stage. The RTF copolymer resins prepared had cold-setting capability. They had higher viscosity, shorter gel time as compared with the RF resin. The RTF copolymer resins could be carried out the gluing application immediately after the hardener was added and had bonding strength the same as RF resin. But the RTF copolymer resins had worse stability and shorter shelf life than RF resin.

Acacia↗
PubMed2004

Acacia senegal and Prosopis chilensis-nodulating rhizobia Sinorhizobium arboris HAMBI 2361 and S. kostiense HAMBI 2362 produce tetra- and pentameric LCOs that are N-methylated, O-6-carbamoylated and partially sulfated.

Sinorhizobium arboris and S. kostiense are rhizobia that nodulate the tropical leguminous trees Acacia senegal and Prosopis chilensis. The lipochito-oligosaccharidic signalling molecules (LCOs) of S. arboris HAMBI 2361 and S. kostiense HAMBI 2362 were analyzed by mass spectrometry. The major LCOs produced by the strains were shown to be pentameric, acylated with common fatty acids, N-methylated, O-6-carbamoylated and partially sulfated, as are the LCOs characterized to date for other Acacia-nodulating rhizobia. Besides the major LCOs the two strains produced (i) tetrameric LCOs, (ii) LCOs acylated with fatty acids other than those commonly found, (iii) LCOs with only an acyl substituent and (iv) noncarbamoylated LCOs. Production of LCOs (i) to (iii) are novel among Acacia-nodulating rhizobia. The roles of the different structural characteristics of LCOs in the rhizobium-A. senegal symbiosis are discussed. Specific structural features of the LCOs are proposed to be important in the selection of effective nitrogen-fixing rhizobia by A. senegal.

Acacia↗
PubMed2004

In vitro effects of aqueous seeds extract of Acacia cyanophylla on the opsonized zymosan-induced superoxide anions production by rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

In vitro studies were carried out in rat pleural polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) activated by opsonized zymosan (OZ) to investigate the effects of aqueous extract from Acacia cyanophylla seeds on superoxide anions generation. PMNs were collected, after induction of an acute inflammatory reaction, by injection in the rat pleural cavity, of a suspension of calcium pyrophosphate (CaPP) crystals (pleurisy with CaPP) or serum (pleurisy with serum). The results obtained indicate that Acacia cyanophylla aqueous seeds extract had, in vitro, a significant stimulatory effect, in a dose dependent manner, on the PMN superoxide anions generation. It also corrected the diminution of superoxide anions production induced by diclofenac pre-treated PMNs. It could be concluded from the results of this study that the stimulatory properties of Acacia cyanophylla seeds aqueous extract may at least be due to the presence of polyphenols such tannins and/or lignins. Further investigations are needed to determine clearly the mechanisms mediating the generation of superoxide radicals in this phenomenon.

Acacia↗
PubMed2001

Bioproductivity and nutrient cycling in bamboo and acacia plantation forests.

This study mainly aimed to investigate the bioproductivity and nutrient cycling processes in plantation forests of bamboo and acacia. In India, multipurpose tree (MPT) species are extensively planted to meet the increasing demand for fuel and industrial wood. The bioproductivity studies of bamboo showed that the total biomass increased with age (2.2 t/ha/year 1) up to six years (297.8 t/ha/year 6) and then decreased (15.6 t/ha/year 10). With acacia, the total biomass increased from 1.8 t/ha/(year 1) to 5.0 t/ha/ (year 3) and 10.9 t/ha/(year 5). In general the biomass increased with increase of diameter and height. Nutrient cycling in the plantation on an annual basis was worked out. A complete harvest of bamboo in 6 years removes 2341 kg/ha of nitrogen, 22 kg/ha of phosphorus, 2,653 kg/ha, of potassium, 1,211 kg/ha of calcium and 1,356 kg/ha of magnesium. A total harvest of above ground biomass of acacia in 3 years removes (kg/ha) 91.74 N, 2.53 P, 73.41 K, 110.45 Ca, 14.06 Mg, and in 4 years removes (kg/ha) 227.47 N, 7.34 P, 181.04 K, 284.15 Ca, and 38.89 Mg.

Acacia↗
PubMed2006

Removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions by Acacia nilotica bark.

Removal of hexavalent Cr from aqueous solutions by bark of Acacia nilotica L. was studied in batch process. Different parameters of adsorption viz. effect of pH, effect of dose and effect of contact time were studied. The percentage removal of Cr (VI) from synthetic sample was found to be 89.0 and 93.1% for 1.0 mm and 0.3 mm Acacia bark carbon (ABC) respectively and 60.9% and 68.1% for 1.0 mm and 0.3 mm Acacia bark untreated (ABU) respectively, in 30 min contact time. The optimum pH for both adsorbents was found to be 2.0 and adsorption equilibrium was found to be 30 min. for both adsorbents. The adsorption process was found to follow first order rate mechanism as well as Freundlich isotherm.

Acacia↗
PubMed2001

Effect of process variables on the microencapsulation of vitamin A palmitate by gelatin-acacia coacervation.

Microcapsules of vitamin A palmitate were prepared by gelatin-acacia complex coacervation. The effects of colloid mixing ratio, core-to-wall ratio, hardening agent, concentration of core solution, and drying method on the coacervation process and the properties of the microcapsules were investigated. The microcapsules of vitamin A palmitate were prepared using different weight ratios of gelatin and acacia, that is, 2:3, 1:1, and 3:2 under controlled conditions. The other factors studied were 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 core-to-wall ratios; 30, 60, and 120 min of hardening time; 2, 5, and 10 ml of formaldehyde per 280 g of coacervation system as a hardening agent; and 30%, 40%, and 50% w/w vitamin A palmitate in corn oil as a core material. The drying methods used were air drying, hot air at 40 degrees C, and freeze-drying. The results showed that spherical microcapsules were obtainedfor all conditions except for 30 min of hardening time, which did not result in microcapsules. The optimum conditions for free-flowing microcapsules with a high percentage of entrapped drug were 1:1 gelatin-to-acacia ratio and 1:2 core-to-wall ratio when hardening with 2 ml formaldehyde for 60 min and using 40% w/w vitamin A palmitate in corn oil as the core concentration. In addition, drying the microcapsules by freeze-drying provided microcapsules with excellent appearance.

Acacia↗
PubMed2002

[Effects of copper on rhizobia-Acacia auriculaeformis symbiotic association].

The effects of different levels of Cu2+ were studied individually on the growth of two Rhizobium strains and host plant growth, nodulation(%) and nitrogen fixation activity in A. auriculaeformis under solution culture conditions so as to explore a probability of utilization of the genus Acacia in revegetation of Cu(2+)-contaminated land. The results shows that Rhizobium sp. (Acacia auriculaeformis) had more stronger tolerance to Cu2+ iron than Rhizobium sp(Lespedeza formosa). The values of EC50 respectively achieved 0.129 mmol for Rhizobium sp. and 0.151 mmol for the N2-fixation activity. When the concentration of Cu2+ was over 0.50 mmol, N2-fixation activity had been inhabited thoroughly. Although the formation of nodules of Acacia auriculaeformis could continued, the growth of host plant had been inhibited with the appearance such as stunting, chlorosis. Between the noinodulating but adding nitrogen treat group and the inodulating without any nitrogen resource treat group, when Cu2+ < 0.125 mmol, the latter group showed better growth for A. auriculaeformis. There were higher contents of Cu in the underground tissues than in aboveground tissues.

Acacia↗
PubMed2001

Survey of insect and non-insect fauna associated with Acacia species in different localities in Egypt.

This study was conducted throughout the period from May, 1997 up to March 1999 to survey the associated insect and non-insect fauna with Acacia species at some localities in Alexandria and Matrouh Governorates, Egypt. The list of identified species associated with Acacia at different localities revealed that there were many species representing 34 families and relating to 11 insect orders. These collected insects could be grouped into five categories according to their feeding habits as destructive insects, true insect pollinators, saprophytic insects, parasitoids and predators and visitors. Regarding the non-insect fauna, three land snails, pseudoscorpion species and earthworms were recorded associated with Acacia trees and litters under the trees.

Acacia↗