Functional Significance of Gum acacia in the Management of Obesity

Gum acacia dietary fiber: Significance in immunomodulation, inflammatory diseases, and cancer

Gum arabic/acacia (GA), derived from Acacia trees, is a versatile natural product offering a broad spectrum of applications. Its rich content of soluble dietary fibers, coupled with a low caloric profile, renders GA a valuable dietary component associated with numerous health benefits. Furthermore, its fermentation by gut microbiota yields short-chain fatty acids, renowned for their positive impact on health. Immunomodulation, a crucially regulated mechanism in the body, serves to fend off pathogenic infections by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, prolonged synthesis of these cytokines can lead to chronic inflammation, tissue damage, and potentially contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify plant-based biomolecules that can effectively reduce inflammation and inhibit inflammation-induced complications or disorders. In this context, edible biomolecules like GA are gaining prominence for their noteworthy immunomodulatory properties. Therefore, in the present review we have explored the role of GA in immunomodulation, inflammation, and inflammation-associated metabolic diseases, and cancer.

Upregulation of miR-33 and miR-155 by gum acacia mitigates hyperlipidaemia and inflammation but not weight increase induced by Western diet ingestion in mice

OBJECTIVE

This study, for the first time, investigates the effect of gum acacia (GA) on the expression of miR-33 and miR-155 and its association with the obesity and inflammation induced by Western diet (WD) consumption in mice.

METHODS

Animals were divided into: normal diet (ND) group, WD group, GA group and GA + WD group.

RESULTS

The WD group exhibited higher total body, liver, visceral fat weights, blood total cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels compared to ND group. The liver tissues showed severe inflammation and degeneration with higher hepatic TNF-α level. Interestingly, GA + WD group showed a decrease in the biochemical parameters and hepatic TNF-α level but had no effect on the weight increase. It also showed a significant upregulation of miR-33 and miR-155 compared to WD group.

CONCLUSIONS

GA mitigated the hyperlipidaemia and inflammation but not weight increase induced by WD ingestion via upregulation of miR-33 and miR-155 while reducing TNF-α level.