Senegalia catechu
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64405a4e9e047443470256 |
| Scientific name | Senegalia catechu |
| Authority | (L.f.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb. |
| First published in | D.J.Mabberley, Plant-book, ed. 3: 1021 (2008) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
In parts of South Asia, especially India and Pakistan, astringent heartwood and bark infusions have long been used for mouthwashes and gargles to soothe sore throats and inflamed gums. Traditional herbal compendia describe a mild decoction of the heartwood given as a tea to reduce diarrhea and dysentery, while folk practice in parts of Pakistan has included bark decoctions applied as poultices to swellings. In traditional Chinese medicine the heartwood is prepared as a decoction called “cháhǔ” or “chi” used for diarrhea, dysentery, and topical astringency. These preparations rely on the plant’s tannins and flavonoids to produce a drying, contracting effect that helps control discharges and relieve inflammation, a pattern recorded in historical monographs and ethnobotanical surveys (Austin & Huyler, 1999; Chopra et al., 1956; WHO, 2002).
Across Africa, especially Sudan, Somalia, and East Africa, the practice focuses on the inner bark. Powdered bark is mixed with water to form a poultice that is applied to inflamed or infected skin lesions, while a modest tea of the bark is drunk for intestinal complaints. Ethiopian traditional medicine documents similar preparations, with bark infusions used for wound washes and dysenteric complaints, and in Yemen barks may be simmered as a strong decoction for diarrhea and as a topical gargle for mouth ulcers. The dominant use here is topical astringency and gentle antimicrobial support, reflected in the local record of astringent properties of khair bark (Oliver-Bever, 1986; Alwan et al., 1989; WHO, 2002).
In Southeast Asia, ethnobotanical records from Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula describe a strong heartwood decoction drunk as a tea for dysentery and a follow‑up mouth rinse after tooth extraction, while occasionally the powdered bark is mixed with a little water to make a paste for painful gums or swollen cheeks. In Nepal, traditional healers have reported a light tea made from the heartwood given to control loose stools, and in parts of Sri Lanka barks are steeped in water as a gargle. Across these regions the emphasis is on astringency and soothing mucous membranes, consistent with the plant’s chemistry and long-standing regional descriptions (Ainslie, 1813; Turner, 1965; WHO, 2002).
A practical home preparation is a mild heartwood tea. Simmer 1–2 g of finely chopped heartwood chips in 200 ml water for 10 minutes, then remove from heat and steep covered for 10–15 minutes before straining. Drink warm, a small cup once or twice daily for diarrhea; for a mouth rinse, use one cup cooled and swish gently for 30 seconds 2–3 times a day. Avoid use in pregnancy and during breastfeeding; due to strong astringency, limit to short courses and discontinue if constipation occurs. Because it can bind tannins to iron, avoid taking iron supplements within two hours of this tea. A 1:5 ethanol tincture can be made by macerating 20 g dried heartwood chips in 100 ml 45% ethanol for 2–3 weeks, shaking daily, then straining; for sore throat a dropper dose is 0.5–1 ml diluted in water, up to three times daily, while noting the same safety considerations.
Well‑established constituents that explain the astringent and soothing actions are proanthocyanidins ( condensed tannins ), catechin, epicatechin, and quercetin derivatives. Modern work continues to explore these compounds for their antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, and anti‑inflammatory activity, and the material remains available in specialty herb shops and traditional medicine outlets alongside historical descriptions (Rashid et al., 2018; ESCOP, 2003).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Natural brown colorants (catechu, cutch) produced from the heartwood by aqueous extraction and evaporation; standardized products contain catechins (catechin, epicatechin), procyanidins, and flavan-3-ols. Industrial forms include water-soluble powders and liquids.
Colorants and tanning:
- Textile dyeing: used as a natural brown dye for protein fibers (wool, silk). The color results from catechins and condensed tannins binding to fiber; metal mordants (aluminum, iron, copper) shift hues from golden brown to darker reddish-brown shades. The dye is widely documented in classic dyeing literature and commercial catalogs.
- Leather tanning: applied as a vegetable tanning material (classified as a condensed tannin or “catechu-type” tannin). The polyphenolic content provides cross-linking of collagen in hides, producing brown leathers with moderate tempering properties.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Textile dyeing and printing: as a brown dye component in craft and industrial dyeing recipes for protein fibers and, with appropriate mordants, for cellulosic materials.
- Wood staining and finishing: occasionally used as a natural brown stain for wood surfaces and in decorative woodwork.
- Analytical and laboratory chemistry: employed as a source of catechins and condensed tannins for colorimetry, tannin standardization, and biochemical assays. Historical mentions exist for its role in copper electroplating solutions (baths) and in gold and silver assaying procedures.
Wood and fiber:
- Timber: heartwood is dense and durable; logs and lumber can be sawn for specialty woodcraft, furniture components, and carving where stability and color are valued.
- Firewood and charcoal: the dense wood serves as a fuel wood and for charcoal production.
Properties relevant to use:
- High condensed tannin content (≥40–70% depending on source) with catechin/epicatechin dominance provides color formation and collagen cross-linking.
- Insoluble and partially soluble catechin-derived polyphenols determine lightfastness and washfastness; color changes with mordant choice and pH.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Heartwood extract is typically collected from mature trees by wounding and sap-extraction and concentrated to marketable products. Conservation concerns arise due to bark/heartwood harvesting; management typically focuses on sustainable harvest and replanting, though quantitative sustainability data vary by region.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Acacia catechu | (L.f.) Willd. | Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 4: 1079 (1806) |
| Mimosa catechu | L.f. | Suppl. Pl.: 439 (1782) |
| Mimosa catechuoides | Roxb. | Fl. Ind. ed. 1832, 2: 562 (1832) |
| Acacia catechu var. catechuoides | (Roxb.) Prain | |
| Acacia catechuoides | (Roxb.) Benth. | London J. Bot.1: 510 (1842) |
| Acacia wallichiana | DC. | Prodr.2: 458 (1825) |
| Mimosa spinosissima | Poir. | J.B.A.M.de Lamarck, Encycl., Suppl. 1: 78 (1810) |
| Acacia catechu var. wallichiana | P.C.Huang | Sylva Sinica? 2: 1259, f. 579, 5–6 1985 |
| Acacia sundra | (Roxb.) Bedd. | |
| Mimosa cate | Spreng. | Gartenzeit. 2: 46 (1804) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Arabic | الأكاسيا ذات الكاشو |
| Nepali | khayar |
| Vietnamese | keo cao |
| Chinese | 儿茶 |
| Chinese | 孩儿茶 |
| Chinese | 乌爹泥 |
| Chinese | 西谢 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
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China
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- West Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Myanmar
- Thailand
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Malesia
- Jawa
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Australasia click to expand
-
Australia
- Northern Territory
-
Australia
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001284769 |
| Tropicos | 50325050 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77089268-1 |
| The Plant List | tro-50325050 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 112124 |
| IPNI | 77089268-1 |
| iNaturalist | 548800 |
| GBIF | 3796190 |
| USDA GRIN | 803 |
| CMAUP | NPO1334 |
| CMAUP | NPO29757 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Acacia catechu and Its Phytochemical Analysis. | Negi BS, Dave BP | Indian J Microbiol | 01-Oct-2010 |
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| Determination of the predominant catechins in Acacia catechu by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. | Shen D, Wu Q, Wang M, Yang Y, Lavoie EJ, Simon JE | J Agric Food Chem | 03-May-2006 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid | 135 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=O)O)O | 138.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Phenyl methylcarbamates | |||||
| Carbamic acid, methyl-, 3-(dimethylamino)-p-tolyl ester | 26479 | Click to see | 208.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / 1-hydroxy-4-unsubstituted benzenoids | |||||
| Hydron phenoxide | 20488062 | Click to see | 94.11 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| Isoeugenol | 853433 | Click to see | 164.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Hydrocarbons / Saturated hydrocarbons / Alkanes | |||||
| Hexadecane | 11006 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC | 226.44 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Acyclic diterpenoids | |||||
| 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-OL | 5366244 | Click to see CC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(=CCO)C | 296.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3,7,11,15-Tetramethylhexadec-2-en-1-ol | 145386 | Click to see | 296.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Benzoicacidcyanomethylester | 5320547 | Click to see CC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(=CCO)C | 296.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| cis-Phytol | 6430833 | Click to see CC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(=CCO)C | 296.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Npc117493 | 9018 | Click to see | 296.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Phytol | 5280435 | Click to see CC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(=CCO)C | 296.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (1R)-Camphor | 230921 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Camphor | 2537 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Camphor, (-)- | 444294 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Camphor, (1S)- | 10050 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| D-Camphor | 159055 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Npc54264 | 9543187 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Quinone and hydroquinone lipids / Vitamin E compounds | |||||
| Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate | 86472 | Click to see | 472.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate | 2117 | Click to see | 472.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3209846/ |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Carotenes | |||||
| Beta-Carotene | 5280489 | Click to see | 536.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroid lactones / Bufanolides and derivatives | |||||
| 5-[(3S,8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-14-hydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-3-[(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-1,2,3,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-yl]pyran-2-one | 73707522 | Click to see | 530.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmasterol | 5280794 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds | |||||
| GlyTouCan:G97417CF | 24802025 | Click to see | 342.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Dihydrofurans / Furanones / Butenolides | |||||
| D-ascorbic acid | 54690394 | Click to see C(C(C1C(=C(C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O | 176.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Imidazopyrimidines / Purines and purine derivatives / Xanthines | |||||
| Caffeine | 2519 | Click to see CN1C=NC2=C1C(=O)N(C(=O)N2C)C | 194.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyranodioxins | |||||
| (6S,8S)-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,6-bis(hydroxymethyl)-3,4a,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-pyrano[2,3-b][1,4]dioxine-7,8-diol | 5317351 | Click to see | 388.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyridines and derivatives / Pyridinecarboxylic acids and derivatives / Pyridinecarboxylic acids | |||||
| Nicotinic Acid | 938 | Click to see | 123.11 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| (-)-Catechol | 73160 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-Epicatechin | 182232 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol | 1203 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| l-Epicatechol | 255538 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Catechin gallates | |||||
| (-)-Epicatechin gallate | 107905 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O | 442.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-Dihydroxychroman-3-Yl 3,4,5-Trihydroxybenzoate | 367141 | Click to see | 442.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF0531499 |
| Epigallocatechin Gallate | 65064 | Click to see | 458.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Gallocatechin gallate | 5276890 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O | 458.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Epigallocatechins | |||||
| (-)-Gallocatechin | 9882981 | Click to see | 306.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-Epigallocatechin | 10425234 | Click to see | 306.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epigallocatechin | 72277 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)O | 306.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Gallocatechin | 65084 | Click to see | 306.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavan-3-ols | |||||
| (-)-Epiafzelechin | 443639 | Click to see | 274.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2R)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromene-3,5,7-triol | 9943440 | Click to see | 274.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol | 282014 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O | 274.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Afzelechin | 442154 | Click to see | 274.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| ent-Epiafzelechin | 12309491 | Click to see | 274.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Mesquitol | 11033582 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones / Flavanonols | |||||
| Aromadendrin | 122850 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O | 288.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| 5,6,7,8,3',4'-Hexahydroxyflavone | 14515885 | Click to see | 318.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Fisetin(1-) | 54758660 | Click to see | 285.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Fisetin | 5281614 | Click to see | 286.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Kaempferol | 5280863 | Click to see | 286.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetagetin | 5281680 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(O2)C=C(C(=C3O)O)O)O)O)O | 318.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides | |||||
| (2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(2R,3R)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroxy-chroman-5-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran-3,4,5-triol | 10343835 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=C1C(=CC(=C2)O)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O | 452.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Hydroxyflavonoids / 7-hydroxyflavonoids | |||||
| (2S,3S)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromene-5,7-diol | 44445800 | Click to see | 288.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Pyranoflavonoids | |||||
| Ophioglonin | 11461162 | Click to see | 314.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| 4-((Z)-2-(3-Methoxyphenyl)Ethenyl)Phenol | 5469252 | Click to see | 226.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |