Katha | Catechu | کتھ سفید

English: Catechu

Latin: Acacia Catechu

Hindi & Urdu: Katha

Acacia catechu commonly known as catechu is a medicinal plant used for varied purposes. The bark of this plant is strong antioxidant, astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antifungal in nature. The extract of this plant is used to treat sore throats and diarrhoea, also useful in high blood pressure, dysentery, colitis, gastric problems, bronchial asthma, cough, leucorrhoea and leprosy. It is used as mouthwash for mouth, gum, sore throat, gingivitis, dental and oral infections. The heartwood is used to yield concentrated aqueous extract i.e. cutch which is astringent, cooling and digestive. It is useful in cough, ulcers, boils and eruptions of the skin. Decoction of the bark is given internally in case of leprosy. Acacia spp. produces gum exudates, traditionally called gum Arabic or gum Acacia, which are widely used in the food industry such as emulsifiers, adhesives, stabilizers and in chronic renal failure