Botany
- Small tree up to 5 m high with scattered spines. The compound leaves are 50 cm long, with 20-30 shiny leaflets. Flowers yellow, 2.5 cm in diameter with densely wooly filaments. Fruit is hard, indehiscent, shiny pod about 7 cm long.
- Widely distributed in the Philippines at low and medium elevations, often in dry thickets.
- Propagated by seeds and cuttings.

Distribution
Widely distributed in the Philippines.

Parts utilized
Bark, wood and seeds.

Chemical constituents
Coloring matter similar to brazilin from brazilwood.
Contains haematein.
Resinous extract containing a crystalline principle, fused with potash, yield resorcin.
Leaves, bark and fruit wall contain tannin.
Leaves also contain a volatile oil (0.16 ro 0.25%), d-a-phellandrene, terpene and methyl alcohol.

Uses
Folkloric
Decoction of wood and bark used for tuberculosis, diarrhea, dysentery, postpartum tonic, skin infections. and anemia.
Seeds used for stomach aches and nervous disorders.
Decoction of wood used postpartum as tonic.
Others
Chiefly used as a dyewood, popular for coloring native fabrics.
In some parts of the Quezon province, a popular colorant for the coconut liquer, lambanog.

Studies
• Antimicrobial: Aqueous extract study showed antimicrobial activity against methicillin-sensitive S aureus (MSSA) as well MRSA and suggests a potential to restore the effectiveness of B-lactam antibiotics against MRSA..
• Immunosuppressive compenent: Brazilein, an important immunosuppressive component of CS showed inhibition of T cell proliferation and suppress mice humoral immune response.
• Antioxidant:Study results showed significant antioxidant activities of Caesalpinia sappan heartwood extracts.
• Anticonvulsant:Study of aqueous MeOH extracts isolated pure compounds sappanchalcone and brazilin which showed remarkable anticonvulsant activity.
• Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors:Study of MeOH extract of Vietnamese CS isolated neoprotosappanin and protosappanin A dimethyl acetal which showed xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity comparable to allopurinol.
• Anti-allergic:Study of extracts of CS showed potent inhibitory activity against B-hexosaminidase release as marker of degranulation in rat basophilic leukemic cells. Among the compounds tested, sappanchalcone showed the most potent anti-allergic effect.
• Cardioactive effects of Brazilein:Brazilein obtained from CS ethanol extracts showed a positive inotropic action with little effect on heart rate and coronary perfusion, an effect achieved through inhibition of Na-K-ATPase system.

Availability
Wild-crafted.