Habitat: From Jammu and Himachal Pradesh to West Bengal, also in central and western India, up to an altitude of 1,200 m.
Ayurvedic: Chakramarda, Prapun- naada.Folk: Chakondaa, Chakwar, Pumariaa.Action: Pods—Antidysenteric, antibacterial, antifungal. Seeds— used for ringworm and skin diseases also for cough, cold, asthma, and as a mild purgative in liver complaints.
Cassea, Cassiah, Casseah... cassia
Habitat: Throughout India.
Ayurvedic: Chakshushyaa, Aranya- kulathhikaa, Kataka.Unani: Chaaksu.Siddha/Tamil: Muulaipalyirai, Kaattukollu.Folk: BanKulathi.Action: Seed—bitter, blood-purifier, astringent, stimulant, diuretic. Used topically for leucoderma, ringworm, venereal ulcers and other skin diseases. Roots—purgative.
Seeds gave sitosterol-beta-D-gluco- side and alkaloids—chaksine and iso- chaksine. Chaksine is found to be antibacterial against Micrococcus pyo- genes var. aureus and Streptococcus haemolyticus. It stimulates contraction of different tissues of plain muscles, like uterus, intestine, bladder, and muscles in blood vessels. It depresses the parasympathetic nerve- endings of certain organs like intestineFamily: Caesalpiniaceae.Habitat: Native to the West Indies. Found wild almost throughout India.
English: Ringworm Cassia.Ayurvedic: Dadrughna, Dadrumar- dana.Siddha: Malanthakerai, Seemai agathi (Tamil).Folk: Daadmaari.Action: Leaf—used in skin diseases like herpes, blotch, eczema, mycosis (washerman's itch). Dried leaves— in leprosy. A strong decoction is used for ringworm, eczema and herpes. Leaves are also used as a purgative.
Young pods contain rhein, emodin and aloe-emodin. The antibacterial activity of the leaves is reported to be due to rhein. The roots contain an- thraquinone. Emodin, aloe-emodin and anthraquinone contribute to the purgative activity of the leaves and roots. Crushed leaves or roots are rubbed on to the skin to cure ringworm and to control Tinea imbricata, a skin fungus.... cassia alataHabitat: Native to Sudan and Arabia. Now cultivated mainly in Tirunelveli and Ramnathpuram districts and to a lesser extent in Madurai, Salem and Tiruchirapalli districts of Tamil Nadu. Also grown on a small scale in Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh and certain parts of Karnataka.
English: Indian Senna, Tinnevelly Senna.Ayurvedic: Svarna-pattri, Maarkandikaa, Maarkandi.Unani: Sannaa, Sanaa-makki, Senaai, Sonaamukhi, Sanaa-Hindi.Siddha/Tamil: Nilaavaarai.Folk: Sanaai.Action: Purgative (free from astringent action of rhubark type herbs, but causes gripe), used in compounds for treating biliousness, distention of stomach, vomiting and hiccups. Also used as a febrifuge, in splenic enlargements, jaundice, amoebic dysentery. Contraindicated in inflammatory colon diseases.
Key application: Leaf and dried fruit—in occasional constipation. (German Commission E.) As a stimulant laxative. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) 1,8- dihydoxy-anthracene derivatives have a laxative effect. This effect is due to the sennosides, specifically, due to their active metabolite in the colon, rheinanthrone. The effect is primarily caused by the influence on the motility of the colon by inhibiting stationary and stimulating propulsive contractions. (German Commission E, ESCOP, WHO.) Seena has been included in I.P. as a purgative.Most of the Senna sp. contain rhein, aloe-emodin, kaempferol, isormam- netin, both free and as glucosides, together with mycricyl alcohol. The purgative principles are largely attributed to anthraquinone derivatives and their glucosides.Senna is an Arabian name. The drug was brought into use by Arabian physicians for removing capillary congestion (pods were preferred to leaves).The active purgative principle of senna was discovered in 1866.Cassia acutifolia Delile is also equated with Maarkandikaa, Svarna-pattri, Sanaai.Dosage: Leaves—500 mg to 2 g (API Vol. I.)... cassia angustifoliaHabitat: Wild in dry regions of Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. Cultivated in other parts of India.
English: Tanner's Cassia.Ayurvedic: Aaavartaki, Aaadaari. Unani: Tarwar. Siddha/Tamil: Aavaarai. Folk: Tarwar.Action: Roots—used in skin diseases and asthma. Flowers enter into compounds for diabetes, urinary disorders and nocturnal emissions.
Pod husk contains nonacosane and nonacosan-6-one, chrysophanol, emodin and rubiadin.Dosage: Whole plant—50-100 ml (CCRAS.)... cassia auriculataHabitat: Cultivated as an ornamental throughout India.
English: Indian Laburnum, Purging Cassia, Golden Shower.Ayurvedic: Aaragvadha, Chatu- raangula, Kritamaala, Kritmaalaka, Karnikaara, Shampaaka, Praagra- ha, Raajvrksha, Nripapaadapa, Raajadruma, Vyaadhighaataka, Aarevata.Unani: Amaltaas, Khyaarshambar.Siddha/Tamil: Sarakkonrai.Folk: Amaltaasa.Action: Flowers and pods— purgative, febrifugal, astringent, antibilious. Seed powder—used in amoebiasis.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated the fruit pulp for constipation, colic, chlorosis and urinary disorders.Pulp of the pod contains anthraqui- none glycosides, sennosides A and B, rhein and its glucoside, barbaloin, aloin, formic acid, butyric acid, their ethyl esters and oxalic acid. Presence of pectin and tannin is also reported.Seeds gave galactomannan free sugars and free amino acids; extract laxative, carminative, cooling and antipyretic properties.Flowers gave ceryl alcohol, kaem- pferol, rhein and a bianthraquinone glycoside, fistulin.Leaves gave free rhein, its glyco- sides—sennosides A and B.Cassia javanica L., a related species found in West Bengal, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, is used as a substitute for Cassia fistula.Dosage: Fruit pulp—5-10 g powder. (API Vol. I.)... cassia fistulaHabitat: Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
English: Spanish, Sudan Senna.Ayurvedic: Maarkandikaa, Svarna- pattri. (related species)Folk: Sonaamukhi, Sanaai.Action: An adulterant of the true senna. Leaves and seeds—purgative and anthelmintic.... cassia obovata
Habitat: Throughout India, up to an altitude of 1,500 m.
English: Coffee Senna, Foetid Cassia, Negro Coffee.Ayurvedic: Kaasamarda, Kaasaari.Unani: Kasondi.Siddha/Tamil: Paeyaavarai, Thagarai.Folk: Kasondi (bigger var.).Action: Purgative, diuretic, febrifugal, expectorant, stomachic. Leaves—used internally and externally in scabies, ringworm and other skin diseases. A hot decoction is given as an antiperiodic. Seeds— used for cough, whooping cough and convulsions. Roasted seeds (roasting destroys the purgative property) are mixed with coffee for strength.
The pods contain sennosides and anthraquinones; seeds polysacchari- des, galactomannan; leaves dianthron- ic hetroside; pericarp apigenin; roots emodol; plant xanthone—cassiolin; seeds phytosterolin; flowers physcion and its glucosides, emodin and beta- sitosterol.The volatile oil obtained from the leaves, roots and seeds showed antibacterial and antifungal activity.The seeds, when fed to animals, resulted in weight loss and also were found to be toxic to experimental animals. Leaves are preferred to quinine as a tonic, seeds are considered as a hae- mateinic toxic and root is used as a hepatic tonic.Dosage: Seed—3-6 g powder; leaf—10-20 ml juice; root bark— 50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... cassia occidentalisHabitat: In gardens as hedge throughout India.
English: Sophera Senna.Ayurvedic: Kaasamarda.Unani: Kasondi.Siddha/Tamil: Ponnaavaarai.Action: Leaves, seeds, bark— cathartic; considered specific for ringworm and other skin diseases (bark may cause dermatitis); used for bronchitis and asthma.
A paste of leaves is used for treating piles. An infusion of fresh leaves, with sugar, is given in jaundice. Plant is spasmolytic. Alcoholic extract of leaves is intestinal and bronchial muscle relaxant.The leaves contain a flavone glyco- side and sennoside. Root bark contains anthraquinones, chrysophanol, physcion and beta-sitosterol. Heart- wood gave isomeric derivatives, 1,2, 7-trihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone, along with sopheranin, beta-sitosterol, chrysophanol, physcion, emodin, 1- octadecanol and quercetin.... cassia sopheraHabitat: Throughout India as a weed.
English: Sickle Senna, Ringworm Plant.Ayurvedic: Chakramarda, Chakri, Prapunnaada, Dadrughna, Me- shalochana, Padmaata, Edagaja.Unani: Penwaad Taarutaa.Siddha/Tamil: Ushittgarai.Folk: Chakavad, Daadamaari.Action: Leaves—taken internally to prevent skin diseases; applied against eczema and ringworm; pounded and applied on cuts, act like tincture of iodine. Seeds, soaked in water, are taken for spermatorrhoea. A paste made of equal parts of leaves and seeds is given for jaundice. Pods are used in dysentery.
Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated the use of the seed in paralysis and hemiplegia as a supporting drug.The leaves contain chrysophanol, aloe-emodin, rhein and emodin. Mature leaves possess purgative properties and are sometimes utilized to adulterate the true senna; also used as an antiperiodic and anthelmintic.The leaf extract exhibited antifungal activity against the ringworm fungus Microsporon nanum.Seeds contain anthraquinone glyco- sides, naptho-pyrone glycosides, cas- siaside and rubrofusarin-6-beta-genti- obioside. These constituents showed significant hepatoprotective activity.Thrachrysone, isolated from seeds, showed stronger antioxidant activity than tocopherol and BHA.Chrysophanic acid-9-anthrone, extracted from the seed, was found to be active against ringworm fungi.Dosage: Seed—1-3 g powder. (API Vol. III.)... cassia toraHabitat: Native to China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
English: Chinese Cinnamon, Cassia Bark.Ayurvedic: Tvak, Daalchini (bark).Siddha/Tamil: Lavangappattai.Action: Antispasmodic, carminative, antiputrescent, antidiarrhoeal, antiemetic, antimicrobial, mild analgesic. Used for flatulent dyspepsia, colic, irritable bowel, diverticulosis; also for influenza and colds.
Key application: In loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints such as mild spasma of gastrointestinal tract, bloating, flatulence. (German Commission E, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, ESCOP.)The bark yields an essential oil containing cinnamaldehyde (82.2%) and eugenol (1.5%) as major constituents.Cinnamaldehyde is a weak CNS stimulant at low doses and a depressant at high doses and has spasmolytic activity. It is hypotensive, hypogly- caemic and increases peripheral blood flow; it reduces platelet aggregability by inhibiting both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism.Aqueous extract of the bark shows significant antiallergic activity in guinea pig. Diterpenes (Cinncassi- ols) are thought to be responsible for atleast some of the antiallergic effects.The herb inhibited ulcers induced by ethanol, also ulcers induced by phenylbutazone; failed to prevent ulcers induced by indomethacin. (Planta Med 1989, 55(3), 245-248.)The extract, when administered orally to rats with nephritis, prevents the increase of protein level in urine.The bark markedly reduces blood pressure in experimental rats; exhibits tranquilizing effect and is used as an antiepileptic and sedative agent in drugs ofTCM.... cinnamomum cassia
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