Acacia CATECHU (L.f.) Willd.


Synonym : Acacia catechu Willd.
Acacia sundra (Roxb.) Bedd.
Mimosa catechu L.F.
Mimosa catechuoides Roxb.

Bangla Name : Khair, Katha, Khadir.
English Name : Kutch tree.
Family : Mimosaceae
Disease : leucorrhoea, piles, erysipelas,diarrhoea, spongy gums,tonsil.
Description : A moderate sized spiny deciduous tree, spines short hooked in pairs. Leaves 2-pinnate, pinnae 40-80, leaflets 60-100, small ligulate. Flowers small, pale yellow or white in cylindrical axillary spikes, corolla 2-3 times the calyx. Pods strap-shaped, straight, brown.
Distribution : Bogra, Faridpur, Pabna and Rajshahi.
Chemical Constituents : Bark and the shiny, black-brown extract of leaves and shoots contain tannins, catechin, catechutannic acid, catechuic acid, catechu red, mucilage, flavonoids, quercetin, quercitrin, resins and gum. Wood contains many flavonoids, ?-, ?- and ?–catechin and
Uses : Bark is astringent, anthelmintic, antidysenteric, antipyretic, cures itching, inflammations, sore throat, bronchitis, indigestion, ulcers, boils, leucoderma, psoriasis, leprosy and elephantiasis, strengthens the teeth. Catechu extracted from the brak pose
Habit : Tree