Kino is anexudate produced by various trees and other plants, particularlybloodwood species ofeucalypts (Angophora,Corymbia,Eucalyptus) andPterocarpus, in reaction to mechanical damage,[1] and which can be tapped by incisions made in the trunk or stalk. ManyEucalyptus,Angophora andCorymbia species are commonly referred to as 'bloodwoods', as the kino usually oozes out a very dark red colour. Kino flow inangiosperms contrasts with resin flow inconifers.[2][3] The wordkino is of Indian origin.[4] In Australia, "red gum" is a term for kino from bloodwood trees and redacaroid resin fromXanthorrhoea spp. Despite often called "gum", it is not technically agum.[5]
Astringenttannin compounds are a major active component of kinos.[6] The chief constituent of kino iskinotannic acid, of which it contains 70 to 80 per cent. It also contains kino red, aphlobaphene produced from kinotannic acid by oxidation.[7] Kino also yieldskinoin, a crystalline neutral principle.[8]
In cold water it is only partially dissolved, leaving a paleflocculent residue which is soluble in boiling water but deposited again upon cooling. It is soluble inalcohol andcausticalkalis, but not inether.[8]
When exuding from the tree, it resemblesred-currantjelly, but hardens in a few hours after exposure to the air and sun.[8] Kinos typically dry to anamber-like material.[9] It consists of dark red angular fragments, rarely larger than a pea.[10]Of the small angular glistening fragments, the smaller are reddish, and the larger are almost black; thin pieces are ruby red. It is brittle and easily powdered. It has no smell, but a very astringent taste.[11]
Kinos are used in medicine, tanning,[6] and as dyes.[11] Kino was introduced to European medicine in 1757 byJohn Fothergill. When described by him, it was believed to have been brought from the riverGambia in West Africa, and when first imported it was sold in England asGummi rubrum astringens gambiense. It was obtained fromPterocarpus erinaceus. In the early 20th century, the drug recognized as the legitimate kind wasEast Indian,Malabar orAmboyna kino which is the evaporated juice obtained from incisions in the trunk ofPterocarpus marsupium.[8] In addition to kinos from these two species, Bengal or Butea kino fromButea frondosa and Australian, Botany Bay, or Eucalyptus kino fromEucalyptus siderophloia andEucalyptus camaldulensis, were imported into the United States.[10][12] AWest Indian orJamaica kino is believed to be the product ofCoccoloba uvifera, or seaside grape. It is possible that the same plant is the source of the South American kino.[13]
Kino is not absorbed at all from the stomach and only very slowly from the intestine.The drug was frequently used indiarrhoea, its value being due to the relative insolubility of kinotannic acid, which enabled it to affect the lower part of the intestine. In this respect it is similar tocatechu. It ceased being used as a gargle when antiseptics became recognized as the rational treatment for sore throat.[8] A medicinal tincture of kino was used as a gargle for the relaxation of theuvula; it contained kino, glycerin, alcohol, and water.[11]
As they are usually soluble in water, kinos found use in traditional remedies: Eucalyptus kino is used by Aboriginal Australians in a tea for treating colds.[9]
Kino was employed to a considerable extent in the East Indies as a cotton dye, giving to the cotton the yellowish-brown color known asnankeen.[11]
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