PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY OF ACACIA CATECHU WILLD: A REVIEW

Khandekar Surekha Babasaheb*, Pansare Tabassum Arif and Satpudke Shweta Shaligram

ABSTRACT

Khadir (Acacia catechu Willd) beloning to Family-Fabaceae and subfamily-Mimosoideae has a great importance due to its medicinal properties and is commonly known as Katha. It is a historical plant; widely used in traditional medicine especially in Asia. In charka Samhita, vimansthan chapter 8 Khadira (Acacia catechu Willd) included in kashay skandha. Kashay rasa plays an important role in kledashoshan (Absorbing Kleda). Dhatushaithilyanashan (destroys Dhatushaithilyanashan) beside this kashay rasa has vranropan (wound healing) property. Khadir (Acacia catechu Willd) possess predominant kashay rasa, sheet veerya and katu vipak. The useful part of Khadira is bark. The main chemical constituents of Black catechu are flavanoids (catechin, (-) epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, rocatechin, phloroglucinol, procatechuic acid, catecutannic acid, quercetin, quercitrin), alkaloids (kaempferol, dihydrokaempferol, taxifolin, afzelchin gum), glycosides (poriferasterol, poriferasterol acylglucosides), tannins (gallic acid, phlobatannins), sugars (d-galactose, d-rhamnose and larabinose). It has been shown to possess multifarious medicinal properties such anti-bacterial, anticancer, antidiarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antipyretic, anti-ulcer, antisecretory, hepatoprotective, hypoglycaemic, sore throat and wound healing and anti-obesity etc. The article deals with the importance of Acacia catechu willd in maintaining human health. This rivew give detail information regarding Acacia catechu willd. The present review article provides up-to-date information on the medicinal properties of the plant.

Keywords: Acacia catechu willd, Phytoconstituents, Medicinal properties.