Acacia Catechu: Best Herb for Skin, Mouth & Throat Problems (Black Catechu)

Table of Contents

“Acacia Catechu is praised as – Filler of Wound, in Atharva Veda.”

1. Introduction

Acacia catechu belongs to family “Fabaceae” and its subfamily is “Mimosoideae.” It is also known as black catechu. The generic name “acacia” comes from the Greek word “akis,” meaning a point or a barb. The species name comes from “cutch,” a tanning extract isolated from its heartwood. It alleviates the diseases and stabilizes the body and provides strength to the teeth.

Acacia catechu is considered as best drug for skin disease as per Ayurveda. The plant is useful internally as well as externally. It is mainly used in skin disorders, itching problems, disease of teeth, disease of mouth and throat, cough, obesity and worms.

It is a multipurpose tree species, the heartwood of the tree is mainly used for extracting katha and cutch (decoction obtained after filtration), which are sold in the market. Katha is commonly used in Ayurvedic preparations.

Besides this, it serves as one of the major components in masticatory, chewing of betel leaf (pan) in India and Pakistan. It is useful in dental, oral, throat infections and as an astringent for reducing oozing from chronic ulcers and wounds. It dries up the mucous secretions and regains the taste sensation.

Heartwood extract of Acacia catechu is also used as a preservative for fishing nets, dyeing, and leathering tanning and as a viscosity regulator for oil drilling. Wood of Acacia catechu is used as firewood and in furniture manufacturing also.

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2. Common Names

• Family – Fabaceae
• Hindi Name – Khair, Khaira
• English Name – Cutch tree, Black Catechu

3. Vernacular Names

• Bengali – Khera, Khayera
• Assamese – Kharira, Khara
• Gujarati – Khair
• Kannada - Kaggali
• Malayalam – Karingali
• Marathi – Khaira
• Tamil – Karungali
• Telugu – Chandra
• Oriya – Khaira

4. Synonyms

• Dantadhavana – Twigs of this plant are used as toothbrush for teeth cleaning.
• Galaroganut – It is useful in throat disease.
• Gayatri – It gives protection to the voice or throat of singers.
• Kanthi – It is beneficial for the throat.
• Khadir – It alleviates the diseases and stabilizes the body.
• Kustanghni – It is considered as a specific drug for the treatment of leprosy.
• Medoghna – It cures obesity.
• Raktasara – The heartwood is red color.
• Yajngiya – Wood is regarded as holy and used in sacrifices.

5. Classical Categorization

• Charaka Samhita – Kustaghna
• Sushrut Samhita – Salasaradi
• Dhanvantari Nighantu – Guduchyadi varga
• Madanpal Nighantu – Vatadi varga
• Kaiyadev Nighantu – Oshadi varga
• Raj Nighantu – Shalmalyadi varga
• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Vatadi varga

6. Distribution

It is common in the sub-Himalayan tract and outer Himalayas ascending from 900 to 1200m from Jammu to Assam. It is found widely in Jammu, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andra Pradesh and Odisha. This plant is native to India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Thailand but now-a-days it is also cultivated in Indonesia, Kenya and Mozambique.

7. Morphology

It is small to moderate sized deciduous tree, 9 to 12m in height.

Bark – The bark is dark grey and rough with short, hooked spines, the branches are thin and spike like because tiny thorns grow around the exterior.

Leaves – Bipinnate compound leaves, 30 to 40 pairs of leaflets, main rachis pubescent with a large gland near the middle of rachis, leaflets are very small.

Flowers – White to pale yellow, sessile, found in 5 to 10 cm peduncle axillary spikes. Pentamerous with a campanulate calyx, 11.5 mm long, and a corolla 2.5 to 3mm long, stamens with white or yellowish-white filaments.

Fruits – 5 to 12 cm long flat brown pods, shiny and with a triangular peak at the apex and narrowed at base.

Seeds – 3 to 10 seeds per pod, broadly ovoid.

Gum – The gummy extract of the wood of this plant is large and yellowish-white and heart wood is small and red in color.

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8. Types

There are different types of catechu has described in different classical texts, some are:

• Dhanvantari Nighantu described two types of Catechus: Khadir and Somavalka (also known as khadir).
• Bhavaprakash Nighantu, it is of three types: Khadir (Acacia Catechu), Shweta khadir (Acacia suma kurg) and Irimeda (Acacia farnaciana wild).
• Raj Nighantu described five types of Khadir which are, Khadir, Somavalka, Tamrakantaka, Vit Khadir, and Irimeda.

In India, there are three varieties of Acacia Catechu, namely, catechu, catechuoides and Sundra catechu. These are commercially used to obtain katha in north India. Acacia catechu is widely distributed in Jammu, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Acacia catechu is found in terrain region of Sikkim, Assam, and west Bengal, whereas A. Sundra, generally known as Lal khair (red catechu), is found in Deccan, Gujrat, Rajasthan and southern Maharashtra.

9. Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (Taste): It has Tikta, Kasaya (bitter, astringent) taste.

Virya (Potency): It is Sheeta in nature (cold).

Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): It is Katu (pungent) taste.

Guna (Qualities) – Laghu, Ruksha

10. Chemical Constituent

Major chemical constituent of Acacia catechu is catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, procatechinic acid, tannins, alkaloids, quercetin and kaempferol, and porifera sterol glucosides.

• Heartwood – Flavonoids, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, rocatechin, catecutannin acid, quercetin, quercitrin.
• Leaves – Alkaloids, kaempferol and taxifolin.
• Bark – Glycosides, poriferasterol acylglucosides.
• Tannin – Gallic acids, phlebotannin.

11. Identity, Purity, and Strength

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 2%
• Total Ash – Not more than 2%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 1.2%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 1%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 3%

(Source: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 1989)

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12. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Action

The main Ayurvedic action are antileprotic, antipruritic, anticough, antiobesity, anthelmintic, digestive, appetizer, astringent, hemostatics, urinary astringent, wound healing, useful as a blood purifier, alleviates kapha and pitta dosha, beneficial for teeth.

• Dohakarma – Kaphapittashamak
• Dhatukarma – Medoghna
• Malakarma - Mutrasangrahana

Pharmacological Action

Catechin which found in catechu is biologically highly active and it is used as a hemostatic. Another important constituent is taxifolin and it has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Other important pharmacological properties of Acacia catechu are wound healing, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, antipyretic, antisecretory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antimycotic and antiulcer. It possesses anthelmintic, antidysenteric, and antipyretic and hypotensive properties.

13. Health Benefits

It is mainly used in leprosy, worm infestation, itching, diabetes, fever, wound, anorexia, obesity, leukoderma, swelling, hemorrhagic disease, anaemia, cough, piles, fistula in ano, diarrhea, skin diseases and chronic fever.

The bark, wood extracts, fruit, gum and flowering tops of Acacia catechu are used for medicinal purpose. The plant is used both internally and externally. It is also used in melancholia, conjunctivitis, hemoptysis, chest pain, asthma, colicky pain, gravel, bronchitis.

Catechu is one of the most potent drugs used for various skin disease, Khadirarista is a famous preparation used for that purpose. Decoction prepared from this plant is externally beneficial in vaginal diseases, leukorrhea, menorrhagia, etc. Catechu and Yashtimadhu helps in healing the wounds and ulcers in vaginal and anal mucosa. Decoction prepared with bark of catechu and triphala is given with ghee and Vidanga powder in anal fistula. The decoction of catechu and amala is used with bakuchi powder in skin infections caused due to kapha dosha.

Acacia catechu is used in treating skin disorders, itching problems, disease of teeth, disease of mouth and throat, cough, obesity, worms, diabetes, fever, vitiligo, swelling, wound, bleeding disorders, anaemia, eruptive boils, filaria, and is also used as rasayana.

14. Therapeutic Uses

Gum Bleeding – It is used externally as a powder to check bleeding from gums.

Skin disease – The bath of its decoction is an effective panacea for various skin affections. The paste is used externally in skin eruption, boils, ulcer and wound.

Sore Throat – The popular preparation Khadiradi gutika is beneficial for chewing in sore throat, hoarseness of voice, and tonsillitis due to vitiation of kapha doshas. The decoction is an effective gargle in sore throat, cough and hoarseness of voice.

Leprosy – The decoction of Khadira is used as drink, to sprinkle, in tub-bath, etc.

Disease of Teeth – Decoction of Catechu, yavani, or root of neem relieves dental disease.

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15. Official Part Used

Bark, wood extract, fruits, gum and flowering tops of Acacia catechu.

16. Doses

• Bark Powder – 1 to 3gm
• Decoction – 50 to 100ml
• Khadirsara – 0.5 to 1gm

17. Formulations

Khadiradi vati, Khadirastaka, Khadirarista, Khadiradi kwath, Nagabala rasayana, Brahma rasayana, Indrokta rasayana, Chandandi taila, Madhwasava, Kanakabindu arishta.

18. Precaution

The use of Acacia catechu is contraindicated in pregnant or breast-feeding women and patients undergoing immune-suppressive therapy.