BIOACTIVE POTENTIAL AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF ACACIA CATECHU

Abstract

Acacia catechu is also known as Cutch tree, and black cutch heartwood tree. It has bitter and astringent taste.  The chief phytoconstituents as catechi and epicatechin. Wood contains 50% tannins, mainly cattechutannic acid 20-35%, acacatechin 2-10%, catechins 13-33%, epicatechin 2.5%, isorhamnetin, quercetin, phlobatannins 25-33%, tannic acid 22-50%, catechu-red, gum 20-35%. It is used for teeth disorders, itching of skin, cough, anorexia, obesity, worm infestation, diabetes, fever, ulcers, leukoderma, and anaemia. Acacia catechu is the best herb for the management of internal as well as external health problems. The pharmacological activity of acacia catechu has been reported such as antiviral, antimicrobials, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antidiabetic and hepatoprotective etc.