Acacia catechu (Linn. f.)Willd.
Family _ Mimosaceae.
Habitat _ Drier regions of India,
particularly Punjab, Madhya
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and
Rajasthan.
English _ Cutch tree, Catechu.
Ayurvedic _ Khadira, Kadara,
Somavalka, Gaayatri, Dantdhaavan,
Kantaki, Raktasaara (heartwood
extract).
Unani _ Khair, Kaat, Katthaa
(heartwood extract).
Siddha/Tamil _ Karunkaali
(bark), Kalippakku, Kadiram.
Katthakkaambu, Kaasukkatti
(heartwood extract).
Action _ Cutch from wood—
powerful astringent (in urinary and
vaginal discharge), antidiarrhoeal,
haemostatic; used for treating
excessive mucous discharges,
haemorrhages, relaxed conditions
of gums, throat and mouth,
stomatitis, irritable bowel; also used
as an antileprotic drug.
Along with other therapeutic applications,
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia
of India indicates the use of dried pieces
of heartwood in inflammations, skin
diseases and urinary disorders, recommends
its use as a blood purifier, in
diseases caused by lipid disorders.
Cutch (the concentrated extract)
contains tannins, catechin
phlobatannins including catechutannic
acid; flavonoids including
quercetin, quercitrin, fisetin;
gums, resins, pigments. The gum from
A. catechu is a good substitute for Gum
arabic.
A
6 Acacia chundra Willd.
Seed extract—hypoglycaemic to
normal albino rats, but not effective
in diabetic rats. The saline extract of
seeds shows leuco-agglutinating activity
against leukaemic cells. It agglutinates
white cells from patients with
different types of leukaemia. The activity
is inhibited by simple sugars. Root
extract shows antibacterial and fungicidal
activity.
The heartwood contains a hepatoprotective
principle—cyanidanol.
Astringent and antibacterial properties
of catechu result from its high
tannin content.
Gambrine in pale catechu shows hypotensive
effects.
Fisetin in black catechu and (+)-
catechin in black and pale catechu
may protect against liver damage; (+)-
catechin is also thought to protect
against experimentally induced ulcers
in animals; (+)-catechin (cianidanol) is
associated with fatal anaemia. Methylcatechin,
one of the major metabolites
of (+)-catechin, inhibits the binding
of monocytes to vascular endothelial
cells; thus, the catechin found in catechumay
reduce atherosclerosis.
Dosage _ Heartwood—10 g for
decoction. (API Vol. I.)