Caesalpinia coriaria

Family Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat Grows abundantly in

South India, also cultivated in

North-western India and West

Bengal.

English American Sumac, Divi-divi Plant.

Siddha/Tamil Kodivelam. Folk Libi-dibi; Divi-divi.

Action Bark—febrifuge, antiperiodic. Pod—astringent (in piles). Fruit—semen coagulant.

All parts of the plant contain tannin, the maximum amount occurring in the pods (65.7%). The tannins from pods comprise pyrogailol type of hydrolysable tannins and consists of gallotannin and ellagitannin. Divi-divi closely resembles myrobalans both in nature and contents of tannins. Seeds contain little or no tannin.

The plant is used for treating freckles. Leaves contain ellagic and gailic acids, catechol and tannins.

Ethanolic extract of the leaves showed antifungal activity