PALE CATECHU

PALE CATECHU

Synonyms : Gambier, Gambir, Catechu

Botanical name: Acacia catechu

Biological source: It is a dried aqueous extract of the leaves and young shoots of uncaria gambier Roxburh, belonging to family Rubiaceae.

Georaphical source : The plant is native of south East regions like Arachipelago in Malaysia. It is also cultivated in Singapore and Indonesia.

Cultivation and collection : The cultivation is carried out in fields upto 170m height and propagation is done by sowing seeds in damp soil. Nursery beds are raised and after 9 months, the seddlings are trans planted in open fields.

                     The first harvesting is done when the plant reaches a height of 2m. The plant yields the drug upto 20 years. The laves and young shoots collected are boild in pot called cauldron, made up of wood and with iron botton for 3 hours and decotion obtained is concentrated till it becomes a pasty mass with yellowish – green colour. This mass is moulded in cubes and dried.

Description : Pale catechu occurs as reddish – brown coloured cuboidal mass quite friable in nature. When broken, it shows cinnamon brown colour and porous nature. The drug has no odour, but highly astringent taste which first appears bitter and sweet. When mounted in water, it shows minute acicular crystals.

Chemical constituents : Catechins, Catechutannic acid and Catechu red etc.

Uses : It is used as an astringent in treatment of diarrhea and also as a local astringent in the form of lozenges. Pale catecu is mainly used in dyeing and tanning industries, and also for protection the fishing nets.