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Dietary supplement

Catechu Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herbal Terra

Catechu label
See full label image
Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 30, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Catechu against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Catechu is a dietary supplement by Herbal Terra with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for mouth and throat soreness, diarrhea and digestive upset, skin wounds and bleeding gums.Based on those ingredients, 475 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are certified organic Catechu (Acacia catechu) dried herb liquid extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Catechu by Herbal Terra

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Catechu by Herbal Terra — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Catechu by Herbal Terra

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 11, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: a liquid extract of dried catechu (Acacia catechu), an herbal extract traditionally used in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine. The ingredient is suspended in a carrier liquid (menstruum) to make it easier to dose and absorb.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Catechu product and its label doesn't state a use — see Catechu's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence for catechu isn't established yet in the data we hold. The facts show insufficient reliable evidence to rate it for exercise-induced muscle soreness or osteoarthritis — the conditions most commonly studied.

That doesn't mean it doesn't work; it means we don't have enough quality human trials to be confident either way. If you're considering it for a specific reason, talk to us about what the research actually shows.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Catechu

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Catechu is likely fine for short-term use in food-like amounts, but concentrated supplement safety data in humans are limited. One combination product containing catechu (Limbrel) was recalled by the FDA in 2017 due to reports of liver and lung injury, though that product also contained another ingredient.

The facts note jaundice, itching, belly pain, fever, rash, and liver enzyme changes in a small number of patients taking that specific combination at 250–500 mg twice daily for 1–3 months. You should avoid catechu during pregnancy — there isn't enough reliable safety information.

For breastfeeding, safety data aren't available, so the safer choice is to skip it while nursing.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Catechu

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Catechu.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: immunosuppressants / transplant drugs.
  • For scale: 475 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check with us before taking this if you're on any blood pressure medication, theophylline (or other asthma/heart drugs processed the same way), or immunosuppressants — catechu may interfere with all three.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Catechu might work for joint or muscle issues, but the evidence isn't solid yet. If you take blood pressure medications, theophylline, or immune suppressants, this extract isn't a good fit without checking with your pharmacist first.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid it.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Nov 21, 2020.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Catechu, straight from the product label.

Brand Herbal Terra
Barcode (UPC) 0617503378248
Net contents 4 Fluid Ounce(s); 120 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Nov 21, 2020
DSLD ID 233944
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Organic, Gluten Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Catechu by Herbal Terra, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
0617503378248
IngredientAmount% DV
certified organic Catechu (Acacia catechu) dried herb liquid extract970 mg--

Other ingredients: Menstruum

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Direction Shake well before use. Adults take up to 30 drops (1 mL, one full squeeze of the dropper bulb) in 3-4 fl. oz of juice or water up to 4 times a day. We recommend to seek expert medical advice before taking this or any other herbal supplements.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

Notice This product has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Formulation

Manufactured in the USA in an FDA registered facility

Sugar free

Dried herb/menstruum ratio: 1:3 Expertly extracted Laboratory tested 330 mg/1 mL Premium product Super concentrated liquid herbal extract

Non GMO

No artificial ingredients, GMO, gluten, color additives, fillers, preservatives or binders. Natural Gluten Free

Precautions

Caution May have contraindications.

Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredients.

Consult a physician before using during pregnancy, if nursing, or if you are on any medications.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry, dark place.

Formula

Acacia catechu

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Made in USA Made in an FDA registered facility Natural Gluten Free

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Catechu by Herbal Terra label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Catechu label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Catechu by Herbal Terra

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Certified organic Catechu (Acacia catechu) dried herb liquid extract

Interacts with
475 drugs
970 mg per serving

Catechu is an astringent extract made from the heartwood of the Acacia (Senegalia) catechu tree, used traditionally for mouth sores, sore throat, diar...

Certified organic Catechu (Acacia catechu) dried herb liquid extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Menstruum. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Catechu by Herbal Terra Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Catechu?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
475Drugs
475 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

certified organic Catechu (Acacia catechu) dried herb liquid extract 475

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Catechu interact with 475 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Catechu interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. certified organic Catechu (Acacia catechu) dried herb liquid extract

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Catechu with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

certified organic Catechu (Acacia catechu) dried herb liquid extract4 drug types · 475 drugs

Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension.
Catechu might lower blood pressure.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

Theoretically, black catechu may increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
Animal research shows that black catechu can increase theophylline concentrations in the blood, possibly by inhibiting CYP1A2. Theophylline is a CYP1A2 substrate.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Immunosuppressants

Theoretically, catechu might interfere with immunosuppressant therapy.
Animal and in vitro studies suggest that catechu has immunomodulating effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Theophylline

Theoretically, black catechu may increase the levels and clinical effects of theophylline.
Animal research shows that black catechu can increase theophylline concentrations in the blood, possibly by inhibiting cytochrome P450 1A2.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
certified organic Catechu (Acacia catechu) dried herb liquid extract full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Catechu, from the product label.

Herbal Terra

See all Herbal Terra products
Name
Herbal Terra
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Catechu by Herbal Terra: Common Questions

Does Catechu by Herbal Terra interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Catechu has a known interaction with 475 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Catechu contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take Catechu while pregnant?
No. There isn't enough reliable safety information about catechu in pregnancy, so it's best avoided. Talk to your doctor if you're expecting and thinking about any new supplement.
Is Catechu safe while breastfeeding?
Safety data while breastfeeding aren't available. The safer choice is to avoid it until you stop nursing and talk to your pharmacist about your options.
What is catechu used for?
Catechu is traditionally used to support joint and muscle health, but the evidence in humans is limited. We don't have enough solid data yet to say it works for exercise soreness or arthritis.
What was the problem with Limbrel?
Limbrel is a combination product containing catechu and another ingredient. The FDA recalled it in 2017 because some people reported liver and lung injury after taking it. A small number of patients — mostly women in their 50s and 60s — developed jaundice, itching, belly pain, and fever over 1–3 months.
Will this interact with my asthma medication?
It depends on which one you take. Catechu might raise levels of theophylline and similar drugs your body processes a certain way. Check your exact prescription with the interaction tool on this page or ask us directly.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Catechu is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Catechu label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Catechu’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Catechu

Interacts with 475 drugs

Catechu is an astringent extract made from the heartwood of the Acacia (Senegalia) catechu tree, used traditionally for mouth sores, sore throat, diarrhea, and minor skin problems. Strong hu...

Read the full Catechu monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Catechu's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 9 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Catechu 9 references
  1. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
  2. Sham JS, Chiu KW, Pang PK. Hypotensive action of Acacia catechu. Planta Med 1984;50:177-80.
  3. Chalasani N, Vuppalanchi R, Navarro V, et al. Acute liver injury due to flavocoxid (Limbrel), a medical food for osteoarthritis: a case series. Ann Intern Med 2012;156:857-60. PubMed
  4. Reichenbach S, Juni P. Medical food and food supplements: not always as safe as generally assumed. Ann Intern Med 2012;156:894-5. PubMed
  5. PL-Detail Document, Liver Toxicity and Limbrel. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter. September 2012.
  6. Al-Mohizea AM, Raish M, Ahad A, et al. Pharmacokinetic interaction of Acacia catechu with CYP1A substrate theophylline in rabbits. J Tradit Chin Med 2015;35(5):588-93. PubMed
  7. Papafragkakis C, Ona MA, Reddy M, et al. Acute hepatitis after ingestion of a preparation of chinese skullcap and black catechu for joint pain. Case Reports Hepatol 2016;2016:4356749. PubMed
  8. Sunil MA, Sunitha VS, Ashitha A, et al. Catechin rich butanol fraction extracted from Acacia catechu L. (a thirst quencher) exhibits immunostimulatory potential. J Food Drug Anal. 2019;27(1):195-207. PubMed
  9. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA Alerts Consumers About Potentially Life-Threatening Health Problems Linked to Limbrel. December 19, 2017. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-alerts-consumers-about-pot

See these in context on the Catechu monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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