Kino

KINO, Kino, the sap of the tree Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. (family Papilionaceae-Dalbergieae), concentrated to a dry state, reaching 25 m in height. The tree grows in Ceylon and in the East Indies. K. has the appearance of red-brown tablets, easily soluble in hot water and in alcohol. Contains 70-80% kino-red (C₁₆H₁₂O₅), a little pyrocatechol C₆H₄(OH)₂, kino-tannic acid, amorphous, which gives protocatechuic acid when fused with caustic alkali, and phloroglucin; with acids (when boiled) gives kinoin, C₁₄H₁₂O₅. Kino-red is an amorphous substance, giving a dark green coloration with ferric chloride. Kinoin is crystalline and gives a red coloration with ferric chloride. Other varieties of K.: Bengal kino from Butea frondosa Roxb. (family Papilionaceae-Phaseoleae); Australian kino from Eucalyptus rostratus Schlecht. (family Myrtaceae); Jamaican, or American, kino from Coccoloba uvifera Jacq. (family Polygonaceae); and African kino from Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. and some others; none of them are accepted in the pharmacopoeia. The use of K. is limited; it is used as an astringent and a remedy for gum softening: tincture of K. (T-ra Kino) for application and K. per se internally in doses of 0.5-1.0 several times a day (for diarrhea). It is included in some tooth elixirs, and is sometimes used for coloring port wine and other wines.