TITLE:
Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Acacia Species in Texas: A Narrative Review
AUTHORS:
Ma. Carla L. Gamis, Ruby A. Ynalvez
KEYWORDS:
Acacia, Texas Ethnobotany, Phytochemical Profiling, Pharmacological Activity
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.17 No.6,
June
10,
2026
ABSTRACT: Acacia sensu lato in Texas comprises 17 native or naturalized species now distributed across the segregate genera Vachellia, Senegalia, Acaciella, and Acacia sensu stricto. These taxa are ecologically important and have longstanding ethnomedicinal value among Native American and Mexican American communities. This narrative review synthesizes phytochemical and pharmacological evidence from 1960 to 2025, integrating ethnobotanical reports with experimental studies. Texas Acacia species produce diverse secondary metabolites—including flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, and phenolic acids—associated with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antiparasitic activities. Research has focused primarily on Vachellia farnesiana, Senegalia berlandieri, Senegalia greggii, and Acaciella angustissima, which exhibit the strongest phytochemical and bioactivity profiles. However, most investigations remain preliminary, relying on variable extraction methods, limited compound isolation, and minimal in vivo validation. Ethnomedicinal uses for fever, inflammation, gastrointestinal ailments, and skin conditions are documented but remain insufficiently verified through contemporary pharmacological testing. Advancing the therapeutic potential of Texas Acacia species will require standardized phytochemical workflows, robust pharmacological assays, toxicological evaluation, and integration of ethnobotanical knowledge with metabolomics and translational research approaches.