Gum arabic (GA) is the oldest gum known for its diverse application for more than 5000 years. The gum is produced from some species of Acacia, mainly growing/planted in arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia. Sudan is the leading producer and exporter of GA in the world. GA is a mixture of potassium, magnesium and calcium salts of polysaccharide acid and is easily soluble in water. As it possesses a unique biochemical structure and properties, it finds application as a stabilizer, emulsifier, bulking agent, thickener, carrier, glazing and firming agent, humectant and antioxidant. GA is biocompatible and biodegradable, and its source is renewable. The people worldwide are now again feeling the necessity of using natural additives in products of human consumption, due to severe adverse effects of using synthetic additives. Such a shift in the human mindset has created additional demand for natural products like GA. This gum is produced in resource-constrained areas, where people are poor and need the creation of good livelihood options for improvement in their economic conditions. Apart from GA production, Acacia senegal trees help improve soil health and restrict climate change as well as expansion of desert in arid and semi-arid regions. Increasing production of GA by motivating farmers in arid and semi-arid regions to establish Acacia senegal plantations; creating infrastructure for processing and value addition in the regions of GA production; and finding new application areas of GA are urgent needs of this vital sector. This consolidated review on GA covers the current research work on GA production, properties, processing, application and marketing, unlike several specific reviews considering the need of those who want to initiate research work/already working for this sector.

阿拉伯树胶(GA) 是最古老的树胶，以其多样化的应用而闻名，已有 5000 多年的历史。这种树胶是由一些金合欢树种制成的，主要生长/种植在非洲和亚洲的干旱和半干旱地区。苏丹是全球主要的 GA 生产国和出口国。GA是钾、镁和钙盐的混合物多糖酸，易溶于水。由于它具有独特的生化结构和性质，可用作稳定剂、乳化剂、填充剂、增稠剂、载体、上光剂和固化剂、保湿剂和抗氧化剂。GA 具有生物相容性和可生物降解性，并且其来源是可再生的。由于使用合成添加剂的严重不利影响，全世界的人们现在再次感受到在人类消费产品中使用天然添加剂的必要性。人类思维方式的这种转变为 GA 等天然产品创造了额外的需求。这种口香糖产于资源有限的地区，那里的人们很穷，需要创造良好的生计选择来改善他们的经济状况。除了 GA 生产，Acacia senegal树木有助于改善土壤健康，限制气候变化以及干旱和半干旱地区沙漠的扩张。通过激励干旱和半干旱地区的农民建立塞内加尔相思种植园来增加 GA 的产量；在 GA 生产区域建立加工和增值基础设施；寻找 GA 的新应用领域是这一重要领域的迫切需求。这份关于 GA 的综合审查涵盖了当前关于 GA 生产、特性、加工、应用和营销的研究工作，与考虑到那些想要启动研究工作/已经在该领域工作的人的需要的几项具体审查不同。