Catechu

CATECHU (Catechu), dried sap or extract from the plants Acacia catechu Willdenow (family Leguminosae) and Uncaria gambir Roxb. (family Rubiaceae-Cinchoneae). It possesses strong astringent properties. Two types of C. are distinguished: black, or pegu-catechu, and white, or gambir-catechu. Pegu-C. is obtained by boiling the wood with water and concentrating the extract. It has the appearance of a dark-brown extract; dissolves in water and alcohol. Constituent parts: catechin C₁₅H₁₄O₇ - on average 7% (crystallizes with three or four molecules of water), catechu-tannic acid, quercetin, mucus, etc. Often mentioned catechuretin, oxycatechuretin, mimotanniretin, etc. are apparently products of catechin decomposition. Light C. - Catechu album or pallidum, Gambir-Catechu (gambir-C.) - is obtained by boiling branches and leaves and concentrating the extract. In appearance it is similar to the previous one but lighter. Composition: catechin (7-20%), catechu-tannic acid (33-47%), quercetin, gambirfluorescin, mucus, wax, etc. The application of both types of C. is the same: occasionally as an astringent, hemostatic, and tonic remedy, as well as for chronic diarrhea in doses of 0.1-0.3 or in solution (10.0 : 200.0) several times a day. Externally: in tooth powders and in tincture for rubbing the gums (in scurvy). Preparations: Tinctura Catechu (in many pharmacopoeias) and Tinctura Catechu composita (pharmacopoeia of the USSR), Extractum, Tablettae, etc.