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Acacia catechu

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Acacia catechu

Black catechu is a deciduous tree with slender branches. It will grow upto 10 to 20 meteres of height. The tree is a source of tannins known as 'Catechu' or 'Cutch' which has a wide range of uses. The tree also provides a useful timber.

Uses

Dog bite, Cough, Toothache, Wound, Desentery, Wounds[1].

Parts Used

Leaf, Bark[1].

Chemical Composition

It contains the following constituents Protocatechuic acid, Taxifolin, Epicatechin, Epigallocatechin, Catechin, Epicatechin gallate, Procyanidin, Phloroglucin, Aldobiuronic acid, Gallic acid, D-galactose, Afzelchin gum, L-arabinose, D-rhamnose, and Quercetin[2]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Kaggali, Kempu kaggali
Hindi Katha, Khair
Malayalam Karintaali
Tamil Karangalli
Telugu Khadiramu
Marathi Khair
Gujarathi Kher
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit Khadira, Dantadaavana
English Balck Catechu

[1]

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Kashaya, Tikta

Guna

Laghu, Ruksha

Veerya

Sheeta

Vipaka

Katu

Karma

Prabhava

Habit

Deciduous Tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature

[3]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Flowering season is July to August

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Fruiting season is August to December

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Amritabhallatakalehya, Arimedaadi Taila, Kusumaangana Oil, Khadira Gulika, Khadiraadi vati, Khadiraarishta, Dashamulaarishta, Narasimha Grita, Manjishtaadi Kvata Churna[1]

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seed, Semi-ripe cuttings of lateral shoots

How to plant/cultivate

A plant for sub-tropical to tropical areas, tolerating a minimum temperature of about 7°c. It is especially common in the drier regions, but can also be grown in the more humid climates of South-East Asia at elevations from sea-level to about 1,500 metres. It succeeds in areas where annual daytime temperatures acan reach 32 - 39°c, and the mean annual rainfall is in the range 500 - 2,000mm. [4]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Open Area, Drier areas mostly on well drained soil types, Shallow Soil, Rocky soil, Mixed deciduous forest, Savannah of Lower mountains, Sandy soils of riverbanks, Watersheds.

Photo Gallery

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 ”Karnataka Medicinal Plants Volume-3” by Dr.M. R. Gurudeva, Page No.183 to 191, Published by Divyachandra Prakashana, #6/7, Kaalika Soudha, Balepete cross, Bengaluru
  2. Journal Paper from National Library of Medicine "Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd.: A Review on Bioactive Compounds and Their Health Promoting Functionalities"
  3. [Morphology]
  4. Cultivation

External Links