Anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, antimicrobial, and anticancer applications of gum Arabic: Pharmaceutical advances

The various therapeutic applications of Gum Arabic have garnered high attention across a variety of biomedical disciplines. Gum Arabic as a biocompatible polymer containing branched polysaccharides and glycoproteins has obtained more attention for encapsulation and loading of anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, antimicrobial, and anticancer agents. This hydrophilic biopolymer and their derivative such as gum Arabic with multialdehyde groups in combination with other synthetic and natural polymers were exploited to increase the bioavailability and biodegradability of conventional drugs. In addition, other therapeutic agents, specifically different nanomaterials have been incorporated and loaded by gum Arabic to synergize anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anticancer effects. In this regard, this mini-review has presented new achievements and related challenges about formulations of gum Arabic and its derivatives to open new avenues of investigation.