cat·e·chu 'kat-ə-.chü, -.shü n any of several dry, earthy, or resinous astringent substances obtained from tropical plants of Asia: as
a) an extract of the heartwood of an East Indian acacia (Acacia catechu) that was formerly used in medicine
b) GAMBIER
* * *
cat·e·chu (katґə-ku) 1. a powerfully astringent extract from the heartwood of Acacia catechu; its chief constituents are catechin, quercetin, and catechutannic acid; formerly used as an antidiarrheal agent. Called also black c. 2. gambir.Medical dictionary. 2011.