ASTRINGENTS
ARCHANA CHAVHAN
M.PHARM (QA)
KYDSCT’S COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, SAKEGAON

The substance that cause
the contraction or
shrinkage of tissue and
that dry up secretions.

Synonyms: Cutch, kattha, khadir, khair
Biological source: It consists of dried aqueous extract of the
heartwood of the plant Acacia Catechu.
Family: Leguminosae
Morphological characters:
Colour - Light brown to black
Odour- None
Taste - Very astringents
Size - 2-5 to 5 cm
Chemical Constituents:-
• It contains about 10% of catechin.
• 25 to 33% of phlobatannin catechutannic acid.
• It also contains 20–30% gummy matter, catechin red,
quercetin and querecitin.

1. It is used as antidiarrheal agent.
2. Kattha is used as a astringents and for cooling and
digestive purposes.
3. It used for relaxed condition of throat, mouth and gums
4. It also increases appetite.
5. In dyeing industries, used for dyeing fabrics brown or
black.

Synonyms:- Chebulic myrobalan, harde, baheda, bibhitak
Biological Sources: Myrobalan is the mature dried fruits of
Terminalia chebula,
Family: Combretaceae.
Morphological characters:

Therapeutic Uses
1. It is used as an astringent and in the treatment of
dyspepsia and diarrhoea.
2. It is used externally in chronic ulcers, wounds,
piles, and as stomachic.
3. It is one of the drugs of the well-known
preparation ‘Triphala’
4. powder of myrobalan is used in dental
preparations
5. It is used in dyeing and tanning industry and also
in treatment of water used for locomotives.
Chemical constituents
• Myrobalan contains about 30% of the
hydrolysable tannins, which consists of
chebulinic acid, chebulagic acid and D-
galloyl glucose.
• It contains colouring matter.
• It also contains most of the sugars as
reported in myrobalan.