Caesalpiniaceae-2; Biofuels, Natural Dyes and Biopesticides

A. Biofuels

1. Kingiodendron pinnatum Harms.

This is a large tree an endangered species sparsely distributed in the evergreen forests of Western Ghats of India. A healthy tree of 3 m girth yields about 12 gallons of oleoresin. The maximum yield reported is 40 gallon. The tapping is done by boring a hole of 2cm diam-in trees of 2 m or more in girth. The hole which reaches the pith is placed 1m above the ground and slopes down wards from the pith to the bark. The exudate is collected and the hole is plugged with a piece of wood. The tree is rested for 10 years before tapping again. The main constituent of oleoresin is β-caryophyllene (84%) and cadinene. The resin left after the volatile oil distilled is a greenish yellow hard brittle mass. The resin is highly inflammable and causes wild fire when the drilled hole is left uncovered after extraction. (Illegal extraction is rampant in forests containing these trees).

2. Copaifera spp.

Copaifera multijuga yields up to 25 litres of resin from the wood in period of six months.

This resin is directly used in diesel engines.

This genus Copaifera, a native of S.America, consists of large trees producing an oleoresin, copaiba, from the wood. These trees contain large resin ducts in the heartwood and the resin flows out due to the spontaneous bursting caused by the pressure developed by the secreted resins in these ducts. The resin is also obtained by boring holes with the heartwood. The clear colorless liquid resin possessing a specific aroma and a bitter taste turns viscous yellow on storing. The oleoresin of C. langsdorfii contains sesquiterpenes like caryophyllene, copaene , β- bisabolene, diterpene acids like polyalthic acid, (-)-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid,

C. officinalis is another source of liquid resin.

B. Natural Dyes

1. Haematoxylon campechianum Linn.

The heartwood of this small thorny tree yields this dye. The purplish red dye obtained from the heartwood contains a neoflavonoid, haematoxylin (an arylchroman) which is responsible for the red colour. Haematoxylin, which is up to 10% of the heart wood,on mild oxidation give haematein- a dark violet crystalline material with a green metallic lusture.

Chipped logwood is subjected to ageing process to facilitate haematein formation. Logwood

extract prepared from unaged wood by aqueous extraction, is concentrated in vacuum pans to get a haematein paste.

Logwood and it extractions are used to dye wool and silk and to cotton with iron chromium mordants. They are also used in dyeing rayon, nylon, fur, jute and leather. It is also used in histological work. The heartwood is a tonic and astringent.

2. Caesalpinia sappan Linn. (Bakam, Sappanwood)

The orange red heartwood of this small prickly tree, a native of India and Malaya tree contains a dyestuff useful in dyeing cotton, silk and wool fabrics. The principal colouring matter in this dyestuff is another aryl chroman, brazilin. The wood contains tannins too. The pod cases contain about 40% tannin. The dye is used in the manufacture of red ink.

The dye is prepared by boiling the wood chips/powder in water till ⅔ of the water has evaporated. With cochineal, mixed a fast dye is produced. The color is magenta/petunia color. For purple color the wood/powder is extracted with water containing 25% (of the wt. of wood) each of washing soda and copper sulphate. This is used in Bandhana and wood for gulal.

Other minor sources of Dyes are

3. Bauhinia purpurea Linn.

Seeds and the bark yield a reddish brown dye.

4. Bauhinia racemosa Lam.

The bark yields a reddish brown dye.

5. Bauhinia tomentosa Linn.

Leaves are used as dyes.

6. Bauhinia variegata Linn.

The bark is used for extracting a yellow dye which is used as a dye auxiliary and for

tanning. The pods also yield beige to brown dye.

7. Cassia angustifolia Vahl

Senna is a tanning and dyeing agent. It is widely used as a purgative also. It is preferred

over rhubarb because it does not produce the astringent after effect of the latter.

8. Cassia fistula Linn

The bark is used in tanning heavy leather and for dyeing fish nets. The bark of twigs gives

much darker color than the tree bark.

9. Cassia occidentalis Linn.

All parts of this plant provide similar colors and are used as tanning and dyeing agents.

10. Cassia senna Linn

Senna can be used as a dyeing agent giving yellow or yellowish brown color.

11. Cassia tora Linn.

Chakramarda can be used as a dyeing agent giving yellow or yellowish brown color. Senna

pods. The fruits of C. angustifolia and, C. acutifolia Delile also provide stable colors. The active principles are very similar to those of the leaf.

12. Peltophorum pterocarpum Baker (P. roxburghii Degener. P. inerme Naves, P. ferrugineum Benth.-Copper pod)

This is a tall handsome tree a native of Andaman’s, now cultivated as an ornamental tree.

The bark, leaves and wood contain condensed tannins. Bark yields a dye as also a tanning

material.

13. Tamarindus indica Linn.

The leaves yield a reddish yellow dye used in coloring wool and silk. The flowers also

are used as auxiliaries in dyeing.

C. Biopesticides

1. Cassia alata Linn. (Dadmurdan, Candle bush)

The leaves are insecticidal and piscicidal. In Africa the plant is used as an ant-repellent.

2. Cassia siamea Linn. (Kasid, Siamese Senna)

C. siamea is found to provide disease resistance to sandal wood growing on them against

spike disease. It is also used as a nurse crop to Sweitenia mahogani to reduce or control the

attack of borers. It is also found to reduce incidence of Lantana. Mulching of leaves prevents

termites in the soil.

3. Cassia sophera Linn. (Janglitakla)

C. sophera is a perennial shrub native to Africa, occurring as a weed in India. Flowers

are found to contain anthraquinone and flavonol glycosides. Leaves also are found to have flavonols and sennosides. Root bark also is rich in anthraquinones. Leaves of this plant was found to be very effective against storage pests like Callosobruchus maculates and Rhyzopertha dominica, and they reduced the F1 emergence of Sitophilus zeamais (Belmain et al., 2001).

4. Chamaecrista nigricans Greene (Cassia nigricans Vahl)

This is an unbranched annual herb also attributed with insecticidal properties.

5. Haematoxylum campechianum Linn. (Logwood)

The wood extract is used as an insecticide.

Mammen Daniel