An Overview on Acacia Catechu

Abstract

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.