The dried gummy exudation from A. senegal and other species of A. (family Leguminosae), prepared as a mucilage and syrup; used as an emollient, demulcent excipient, and suspending agent in pharmaceuticals and foods; formerly used as a transfusion fluid. SYN: gum arabic. [G. akakia]
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aca·cia ə-'kā-shə n
1) cap a genus of woody leguminous plants of warm regions having pinnate leaves and white or yellow flower clusters see CATECHU
2) any of the genus Acacia of leguminous plants
3) GUM ARABIC
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Aca·cia (ə-kaґshə) [L., from Gr. akakia] a genus of shrubs and trees of the family Leguminosae. A. caґna is a selenium accumulator that can cause selenium poisoning in livestock. A. caґtechu Willd. is a small tree native to India and Burma that yields catechu. A. georgiґnae F. M. Bail. is an Australian tree whose leaves can cause fatal fluoroacetate poisoning in livestock. A. seґnegal is an African tree that yields acacia (gum arabic).Medical dictionary. 2011.