Acacia confusa is a perennial tree native to South-East Asia. Some common names for it are Acacia Petit Feuille, Small Philippine Acacia, FormosAcacia (Taiwan Acacia) and Formosan Koa. It grows to a height of 15m. The tree has become very common in many tropical Pacific areas, including Hawaii, where the species is considered invasive.^[2]

Uses

Its uses include chemical products, environmental management and food and drink. The wood has a density of about 0.75 g/cm³.^[3] In Taiwan, its wood is used to make support beams for underground mines. The wood is also converted to charcoal for family use. The plant is used in traditional medicine^[4] and is available from herbal medicine shops (草藥店) in Taiwan. Acacia confusa heartwood extracts have shown antihyperuricemic (i.e., reduce serum uric acid levels) effects in animal experiments due to the presence of the chemical melanoxetin.^[5] Acacia confusa extract has been shown to halt replication of hepatitis C virus in in vitro experiments,^[6] but there has been no clinical study.

Acacia confusa habit

Acacia confusa leaves and pods

Acacia confusa seeds

Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals found in Acacia confusa:

Root bark

• N-methyltryptamine, 1.43%^[7]
• N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 1.15%^[7]

Seeds

• Neurolathryogen (α-amino-β-oxalylaminopropionic acid), which can cause neurological damage, paralysis and death.^[7]

Stems

• N-methyltryptamine, 0.04%^[7]
• N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 0.01%^[7]

Phyllodes

No alkaloids are found in the phyllodes (leaf-like structures).^[7]Template:This needs citation, this may not be correct

Varieties

• Acacia confusa var. inamurai Hayata

See also

• List of Acacia species

References

1. ^ International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS)
2. ^ Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
3. ^ FAO Appendix 1
4. ^ Li, Thomas S. C. Taiwanese Native Medicinal Plants: Phytopharmacology and Therapeutic Values, CRC Press (2006), ISBN 0-8493-9249-7, p.2. online GoogleBooks preview
5. ^ Tung, YT; Hsu, CA; Chen, CS; Yang, SC; Huang, CC; Chang, ST (2010). "Phytochemicals from Acacia confusa heartwood extracts reduce serum uric acid levels in oxonate-induced mice: Their potential use as xanthine oxidase inhibitors". Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 58 (18): 9936–41. doi:10.1021/jf102689k. PMID 20806936. 
6. ^ Lee, JC; Chen, WC; Wu, SF; Tseng, CK; Chiou, CY; Chang, FR; Hsu, SH; Wu, YC (2011). "Anti-hepatitis C virus activity of Acacia confusa extract via suppressing cyclooxygenase-2". Antiviral research 89 (1): 35–42. doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2010.11.003. PMID 21075144. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Lycaeum