Senegalia catechu

Senegalia catechu
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Senegalia
Species:
S. catechu
Binomial name
Senegalia catechu
(L.f.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.
Varieties
  • Senegalia catechu var. catechu (L.f.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.
  • Senegalia catechu var. sundra (L.f.) Willd.[2]
Range of Senegalia catechu
Synonyms[3]
Catechu

Senegalia catechu, previously known as Acacia catechu, is a deciduous, thorny tree which grows up to 15 m (50 ft) in height.[4] The plant is called kachu in Malay; the Malay name was Latinized to "catechu" in Linnaean taxonomy, as the species from which the extracts cutch and catechu are derived.[5] Other common names for it include kher,[6] catechu, cachou, cutchtree, black cutch, and black catechu.

Senegalia catechu is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Cambodia and China (Yunnan).[1]

Pollen from Senegalia catechu

Through derivatives of the flavanols in its extracts, the species has lent its name to the important catechins, catechols and catecholamines of chemistry and biology.

  1. ^ a b Plummer, J. (2021). "Senegalia catechu". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T169300001A169300339. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  2. ^ hear.org
  3. ^ International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS)
  4. ^ "www.fao.org". Archived from the original on 2019-02-10. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  5. ^ http://www.yourdictionary.com/catechu Derivation of word from Malay
  6. ^ Ujwala, T. K.; Tomy, Shawn; Celine, Sandra; Chander, J. Sam Johnson Udaya (2015). "A Systematic Review of Some Potential Anti-Diabetic Herbs Used in India Characterized by Its Hypoglycemic Activity". International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. 6 (12): 4940–4957. ProQuest 1747402306.