Golden shower tree (Cassia fistula).Plant Part Used: Fruit (seed pod).Dominican Medicinal Uses: Seed pods: decoction, orally, for constipation, to expel worms and as a laxative.Safety: No health risks identified in literature for proper use; however, long-term or excessive use can have adverse effects.Contraindications: Pregnancy, lactation, children under 12 y; persons with acute intestinal inflammatory disease or appendicitis.Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-diabetic (leaf and bark extracts), antifertility, sedative, CNS depressant (seed extract), anti-inflammatory (leaf extract), anti-neoplastic, anti-tumor (fruit extract), antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic.In vitro: anti-alzheimer’s (root extract), antibacterial.* See entry for Cañafístula in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.
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