Abstract

A DETAILED REVIEW ON THE BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF ACACIA CATECHU

Anitta Susan Mathew*, S. Jaspher Stalin, Anjana George, Dr. Santhosh M Mathews

ABSTRACT

Acacia catechu is a multifunctional species, widely used for food, fuel, buiding material and medicine. Asthma, bronchitis, chest pain, ulceration, wound healing, sores in the mouth, colic, vitiligo, sore throats, diarrhoea, antiviral, spasmolytic, antifungal, and hypoglycemic activity have all been traditionally treated with Acacia catechu Willd. (Mimosoideae), a deciduous, thorny tree of the genus Acacia. The genus Acacia is a rich source of flavonoids and tannins, which have been shown in previous studies of some other Acacia species to have a variety of beneficial effects, such as antimicrobial activity, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, antibacterial, anticancer, immunomodulatory, chronic renal failure, hepatoprotective, hypotensive, hypoglycemic, and wound healing. The article discusses Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd's morphology, botanical description, maintenance and care, phytochemical analysis, and pharmacological activities

Keywords: Acacia catechu, Khair, Hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, catechin, epicatechin.