BLACK CATECHU

Botanical name: Acacia catechu (L.) Willd.

Family name: MIMOSACEAE 

Thai name: See-sia

Mandarin name: Er-cha

                 Black catechu or catechu tree or cutch tree is a large tree, native to India , Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and East Africa. This tree is cultivated for its lumber. In Thai traditional medicine, it is used as a remedy for diarrhea and for  stop bleeding. In research reports, it was found the polyphenol compounds (catechins) such as catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin-3-O-gallate, and epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate. There are also the research report reveal that the polyphenol compounds possess the tyrosinase inhibition. It is, thus, able to be used the black catechu extract in the skin whitening products.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF BLACK CATECHU EXTRACT

CLINICAL TRIAL ON PIGMENTATION

Inhibitory effects of mushroom tyrosinase by polyphenol components (40mM)

Tyrosinase activity was measured using L-tyrosine as the substrate. Values are means ± S.E. of n=3 determination.

ECG=(-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate; GCG=(-)-gallocatechin-3-O-gallate; EGCG=(-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate; EGC=(-)-epigallocatechin; EC=(-)-epicatechin; C=(+)-catechin; CAF=caffeine.

Statistical significance; *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. control.

Dose-dependent inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase by ECG, GCG, and EGCG

Tyrosinase activity was measured using L-tyrosine as the substrate. Values are means ± S.E. of n=3 determination.

Preservatives: None