The medicinal plants of Myanmar
DeFilipps, Robert A.
Krupnick, Gary A.
PhytoKeys
2018
2018-06-28
102
1
341
3681F392-58F9-5742-86F2-602B865E49EE
(L. f.) Willd.
(L. f.) Willd.
Magnoliopsida
Fabaceae
Acacia
CoL
Plantae
Acacia catechu
Fabales
74
75
Tracheophyta
species
catechu
Names. Myanmar: mung-ting, nya, sha, shaji, tun-sa-se. English: black cutch, catechu, cutch, wadalee-gum tree.
Range. West Pakistan to Myanmar. In Myanmar, found in Magway and Mandalay.
Uses. Bark used as an astringent. Wood: An extract is used to treat ulcers and chest problems.
Notes. In India the bark is used to treat sores in the mouth, chest pain, strangulation of the intestine, and to facilitate childbirth. The heartwood is applied in a thick decoction for cancerous sores ( Jain and DeFilipps 1991). In China the resin is used as a febrifuge, sialogogue, stimulant, styptic, antiphlogistic, astringent, corrective, and expectorant ( Duke and Ayensu 1985). Perry (1980)also discusses the medicinal uses of the species in China. The species contains tannin and catechin ( Duke and Ayensu 1985). Reported chemical constituents also include catechutannic acid, acacatechin, catechu red, and quercetin. In research on vitamin P, "the isomer 1-epi-catechin is reported to be especially active even in minute doses.", and is "The most important source of this substance in the heartwood of A. catechu" ( Perry 1980).
References. Nordal (1963), Perry (1980).