 |
|
|
|
| Latin Name |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Cassia fistula
Linn. (Caesalpiniaceae) |
Indian Laburnum,
Golden Shower,
Purging Cassia |
Aragvadha,
Suvarnaka, Kritamala, Chaturangula |
Amaltas,
Bandarlauri |
|
| |
|
|
| Habitat |
| The tree is
one of the most widespread in the forests in India, usually
occurring in deciduous forests throughout the greater part of
India, ascending up to an altitude of 1,220 m in the sub- Himalayan
tract and outer Himalayas. It is both wild and cultivated. |
 |
|
 |
|
|
| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
It is a deciduous,
medium-sized tree with a gray, smooth, exfoliating bark. 4-8 pairs
of leaflets are seen, distinctly stalked, oblong or ovate, with a
silvery pubescence; the flowers are bright yellow, in axillary, pendulous,
lax racemes; the pods are cylindrical, smooth, hard, dark brown or
black; the seeds light brown, hard, shiny, biconcave and are embedded
in sweetish pulp.
|
|
|
|
| Principal
Constituents |
 From the pulp 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone
derivatives were identified1.
|
|
|
| Pharmacology |
The aqueous extract
of the fruit pulp had a significant purgative action. In a dose of
250mg. and above, it caused purgative action that reached a maximum
in 6-9 hours and lasted for 24 hours. The purgative activity was attributed
to the anthraquinones present2.
|
|
|
|
| Indications |
The pulp is a safe
purgative and is recommended for children and pregnant women.
|
|
| Product
Range |
Pilex (VeinCare),
Purim (HemoCare).
|
|
|
|
| References |
|
- Kapadia & Khorana, Lloydia, 1962, 25, 55.
- Lillykutty, Pharmacological studies of Cassia fistula, M.D.
Thesis, 1968, Univ. Kerala.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
