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Black catechu Details & Specifications |
| Useful
Link |
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| Botanical Name |
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Acacia catechu Wild. |
| English Name |
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Black catechu |
| Hindi Name |
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Khair |
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| CATEGORY |
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Astringent |
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| SOURCE |
| Part used |
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State of the part used |
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Bark |
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Heartwood |
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Dried aqueous extract |
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| FAMILY |
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Leguminosae |
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| GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE |
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The plant is indigenous to India and is found in following countries :-
Bhutan
India
Japan
Pakistan
Turky
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| IDENTIFICATION |
| Organoleptic characteristics |
| Colour |
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| Odour |
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Odorless |
| Taste |
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Very astringent. First bitter and sweet afterwards. |
| Size |
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Available in different size but commonly available in 2.5 to 5 cm. |
| Physical
Standards |
| Total Ash |
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N/A |
| Moisture |
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N/A |
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| CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS |
| Major |
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Major chemical constituents responsible for physicochemical and therapeutic action of the herb are :-
Tannic acid (35%)
Catechuic acid
Catechin
Catechu red
Tannin
/p>
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| Minor |
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Minor chemical constituents of this herb are :-
Acacatechin (10%)
Disteroisomer
5, 7, 3?, 4?-Tetrahydroxy flavan-3-ol
Acaciacatechin
Acacatechin
Catechutannic acid
Black catechu
Catechu red
Quercetin
Gum
Quercitrin
Chlorophyll
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| CULTIVATION |
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In conventional method heartwood is separated and boiled in an earthen vessels to extract all soluble material which is then cooled to room temperature till it is converted to semisolid mass and transferred to rectangular pits with sand bad clay at bottom. It is left for a few days till the cutch part is absorbed by the clay and solid mass, called kattha and is converted in various shapes using molded blocks.
In modern method the red heartwood obtained from the tree is separated for bark and sapwood and cut into small chips by mechanical method and placed into extractors. To this mass steam is passed for extraction and the extract is concentrated under vacuum and is cooled in refrigerator. Cake of kattha is isolated by centrifugation of cool extract. Cake is converted into the desired sizes and shapes using mould and is dried in proper condition. The mother liquor remaining after centrifugation is concentrated which on cooling gives cutch.
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| STORAGE |
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To maintain physicochemical properties and medicinal values of the herb it is recommended to maintain following storage conditions :-
Air tight containers
Protection from light
Protection from moisture
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