Acacia
acacia nilotica



AKA
gum arabic

Adulteration
Adulteration in the crude state is confined almost
wholly to the addition of similar and inferior gums,
the detection of which requires only
familiarity with the genuine article.

In the ground condition it is adulterated oftenest
with starch and dextrins, tests for which are given
in the official description.

Tannin is present in inferior gums and can be
detected by the bluish-black coloration
produced on adding ferric chloride.

Gums of a yellow or brown color usually contain
tannin, and these, together with such as are incompletely
soluble in water and which yield ropy or glairy solutions,
should not be used for medicinal purposes.