Question

The botanical name of “Kattha’ is:
A. Acacia concinna
B. Acacia catechu
C. Acacia Senegal
D. Acacia nilotica

Answer 1

Hint: Kattha is obtained by crystallization in cold from the water extractives of the heartwood. It is obtained from the Khair tree.

Complete answer:
Kattha is also known as black cutch, cashoo, japan earth etc. It has been produced in the country since long and is a mass consumption item. It has medicinal values and is used in ayurvedic medicines. The botanical name for kattha is Senegalia catechu. The tree can be propagated by planting its seeds, which are soaked in hot water. After about six months in a nursery the seeds are planted in the field. The tree’s seeds are a good source of protein and are used as an ingredient to give red colour and typical flavour to paan. Paan is an Indian and south east Asian tradition of chewing betel leaf with areca nut and slaked lime paste. Branches of the tree are quite often cut for goat fodder and sometimes to feed cattle. Paan is a popular item consumed by people after food in marriages and parties.
Medicinal uses: It is used for diarrhea, swelling of the nose and throat, dysentery, swelling of the colon, bleeding, indigestion, osteoarthritis, and cancer. People apply kattha directly to the skin for skin diseases, haemorrhoids and traumatic injuries to stop bleeding and for dressing wounds.

Hence the correct answer is option (b) Acacia catechu.

Note:Catechu is safe in amounts found in food. But there is not enough information to know whether it is safe in large amounts that are used as medicines. It is though that catechu may contain chemicals that can decrease inflammation and kill bacteria.