Gum Arabic

Abstract

Gum arabic or gum acacia has been an important commercial product for thousands of years (1–3). It was used by the Egyptians in paints for hieroglyphic inscriptions and for the flaxen wrappings used to embalm mummies. It has also be found to be a constituent of the ink present on ancient Hebrew manuscripts. Eventually the gum found its way into Europe through various Arabian ports and acquired the name gum arabic after its place of origin or port of export.