Catechu(Black)

Synonym: Cutch tree
Botanical source: Black catechu consist of dried acqous extract prepared from the heart wood of Acacia catachu
Family: Leguminosae


Morphology

colour: Black or dark brown
Form: Irregular masses or cubes
surface: Rough,dull or slightlyglassy and porous
Feature: Very brittle breaking in to powdery masses
Odour: none
Taste: Bitter to taste with forms Sweet & finally astringent

Active constituents
Tannis Catachins(2-12%),catechutemic acid(20-60%) a condansation product of acatachin,flavonoids-quercetin & its derivaties

Uses:

1.Astringent
2.Cooling and digestive
3.Used in relaxed conditions of throat,mouth&gum

Catechu(Pale)

Synonym: Gambier,Gambir
Botanical Source: Pale catechu Consist of the dried acqous extarct prepared from the leaves & shools of uncaria gambier
Family:Rubiaceae

Morphology

Form: smaller cubes
Colour: Dull greyish brown to dark reddish brown externally and pale brown internally
Odour: None
Surface: Dull,farcture brittle
Active Constituents
Taste: bitter to start with turns sweet and finally astringent
Tannis-catachins(7-33%) ,catachutannic acid(22-50%) , Flavonoids-quercetin and a fluoresent substance-gambir fluoresin


Uses:

1.Astringent
2.Used in case of diarrhoea
3.Used as dye and tanning industries

Capsicum

Synonym: Chilli,Red pepper,Spanish pepper
Botanical Source: Capsicum consist of the dried ripe fruit of capsicum frutescence
Family: solanaceae

Morphology
Form: Oblong,conical,obtuse and two celled
Colour: Dull orange red to brownish red, inferior calyx and straight slender pedicelSeeds 3-4mm(l);loose or attached to a thin reddish dissepiment
Odour: Characteristic
Taste: Pungant
Size: 12-25mm(l) and up to 7mm maximum(w)

Active Constituents

Pungent phenolic component
Capsinoids,amixture of 5 isomeric acid amides-capsacin(70%) – homo capsacin- D hydro capsacin-homo dihydro capsaicin-nordihydro capsacin
Carotinoids(.12-.35%) , Ascorbic acid(.1-.5%) , Fixed oil,flavonoids

Uses:

1.Carminative
2.Nerve stimulent
3.Increase in the capilarity of blood vessel
4.Source of vitamine-C

Cotton

Synonym: Cotton
Botanical Source: Cotton consist of the epidermal trichomes of seeds of gossypium-herbaceum and other cultivated species of gossypium
Family: Malvaceae

Active Constituents
Carbohydrates-polysachrides,cellulose(90%), wax,oil and fat in traces

Uses:

1.surgical dressing
2.Filtering medium

Beeswax

Synonym: Bees Wax
Botanical Source: Yellow bees wax is the purified wax from the honey comb of the bee namely Apis dorsata,Apis melifera and other species of Apis
Family: Apidae

Morphology

Colour: White or yellow
Fracture: Brittle and granular

Solubility: Soluble in chloroform,ether and both essential and fatty-oil,but insoluble in water,M.P-62 degree-64 degree,Refractive index to 80 degree
Odour: Honey like
Taste: Waxy

Active Constituents
Lipids: Wax,Myrieyl palmitate(80%), Wax-acid-cerotic acid(15%)

Uses:

1.As a pharmaceutical aid
2.In the preparation of plasters,ointments and polishers

NUTMUG

Synonym: Myristica
Botanical Source: Nutmug consist of dried kernels of the seeds of myristica fragrans
Family: Myristicaceae

Morphology

Shape: Ovoid depending on the variety either broad or elongated
Colour: Light brown to greyish brown
Surface: shows a network of shallow,reticulate groves and is marked with numerous small dark brown points and lines
Ordour: aromatic and characteristic
Taste: aromatic and bitter

Active constituents
Volatile oil(4-16%) , myristicin(4-8%), pinene, camphene,satrole,eugenol,methyl eugenol,ISO eugenol,fixed oil(25-30%) – saponin etc.

Uses:
1.Flavouring agent
2.Carminative
3.Digestive
4.Abortifacient