About processing and utilization technology of hematoxylin
ZHONGSHAN G.H.L. TRADING CO., LTD. , https://www.ghltrade.com
Hematoxylin, also known as Su Mu, is a valuable natural resource that requires careful harvesting and processing. It can be collected throughout the year, but autumn and winter are considered the best seasons due to the higher quality of the wood during this time. The older the tree, the thicker and darker the trunk becomes, resulting in better quality heartwood. When harvesting, it's essential to protect the environment and avoid uprooting the entire tree. Instead, cut the trunk or thick branches into 60 cm lengths, remove the outer bark and sapwood (the white layer), and extract the inner heartwood, which is typically purple, red, or yellow in color. This heartwood should then be dried in a well-ventilated area.
In the light industry, Hematoxylin serves as a high-quality natural dye. The heartwood can produce red dyes, while the roots yield yellow dyes, both widely used for coloring cotton, hemp, wool, fibers, and paper. It is also used as a base pigment in wood painting and is valued as a natural, non-fading art pigment. In the international market, it is considered a precious natural colorant and is popular in high-end cosmetics, especially for red pigments. Its staining ability surpasses imported Brazilian hematoxylin and is regarded as the best organic reagent for detecting aluminum ions.
In the food industry, Hematoxylin has gained recognition as an ideal natural toner, especially in developed countries. As the global shift from synthetic to natural pigments continues, Hematoxylin is emerging as a rising star in the market. The wood itself is of high quality, with a hard texture, fine grain, compact structure, and a glossy surface that resists warping and cracking. It is widely used in joinery, high-end musical instruments, fine crafts, and construction materials, making its market very broad and promising.
Medically, the sapwood contains phenolic compounds, triterpenes, essential oils, and tannins. Key components include hematoxylin, along with other phenolic substances. Triterpene compounds such as β-erithritol are present, and the essential oil mainly consists of phellandrene and ocimene. In the ether extract of the heartwood, various fatty acids have been identified, including 27.62% palmitic acid, 44.15% stearic acid, 25.94% linoleic acid, and 2.25% oleic acid. Free amino acids like alanine, aspartic acid, glycine, valine, leucine, and proline are also found, along with sugars such as D-glucose, lactose, galactose, 4-methylgalactose, and 3,4-dimethylgalactose.
Su Mu is an important herb in traditional Chinese medicine, known for its ability to promote blood circulation, reduce swelling, and relieve pain. It is not only used in clinical formulas but also serves as a key raw material in the production of various proprietary Chinese medicines. According to records from the "Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Products in China" published in 1988, there were 35 types of traditional Chinese medicines containing Hematoxylin, including Huoxue Fenghan Paste, Gynecology Tongjing Pills, Shujin Huoxue Powder, Huazheng Tablets, Jiangdu Yaojiu, Shujin Potion, Wanhua Oil, Compound Mountain Turtle Turtle, Antiphlogistic and Analgesic Liniment, and Six-leaf Hematoxylin Soup.