Babul is a shrub, sometimes called saltbush or tootbrush bush in English. Since antiquity, this root and stem has been used to create toothbrushes, also known as chewing sticks. The tree contains antimicrobial properties that are beneficial for both oral health and other ailments, making the chewing sticks potentially better for dental hygiene than the conventional plastic brushes (Haque, 2015; Kimondo, 2015).
The species is also a source of edible salt, which can be extracted from the leaves. In fact, the babul shrub is an halophyte, which means that it can grow on salty soils. It draws the salts from the soil and stores it in the leaves. This salt has an additional spicy flavor, originating from the plant. The reddish fruits can also be consumed and have a spicy flavor as well.