Astringent substance extracted from fruit, wood or leaves of several tropical plants including acacias and areca palm.
Extract of the leaves and shoots of Acacia catechu, an East Indian plant. It is rich in tannic acid, which is released slowly, a property that makes it a useful intestinal astringent in diarrhea.
East Indian spiny tree having twice-pinnate leaves and yellow flowers followed by flat pods; source of black catechu; SYN. Jerusalem thorn, Acacia catechu.