Acacia catechu a moderate sized tree, found mostly in dry parts of India is belonging to family leguminosae sub
family: mimosiasae. Heart-wood, light red, turning brownish-red to nearly black with age, attached with whitish
sapwood, fracture hard, taste, astringent (protein precipitator). Acacia catechu commonly known as Katha or
Karangali is widely used in India for its various pharmacological effects. It is used in the treatment of passive
diarrhea either alone or in combination with cinnamon or opium. The main chemical constituent of Acacia
catechu are catechin, epecatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechingallate, phloroglucin, protocatechuic acid,
quarcetin, poriferasterol glycosides, lupenone, procyanidin, kaemferol, L-arabinose, D-galactose, D-rhamnose
andaldobiuronic acid, afzelchin gum ,mineral and taxifolin. Catechin: biologically highly active. It is used as a
haemostatic agent. The concentrated aqueous extract known as Khayer gum or Kutch is an astringent, cooling
and digestive, beneficial in cough and diarrhea, applied externally to ulcer, boils and skin eruptions and is used
extensively in Ayurvedic formulations. The seeds of the plant are reported to possess hypoglycemic activity in
rats. Acacia catechu also shows hypotensive effect. The water decoction of Acacia catechu is widely consumed as
health drink especially in Kerala and other south Indian states. It is believed that the water decoction can purify
blood, improve skin texture and boost body’s defence mechanism (personal communication). Since, the plant is
widely used for treatment of various ailments and is a constituent of many formulations.
Abstract