Linn.
Family: Calsalpiniaceae.
Habitat: 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.)
Linn.Cassia absus Linn.
Family: Caesalpiniaceae.
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 intestine
Family: 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 alata
Vahl.
Synonym: C. senna Linn. var. senna.
Family: Caesalpiniaceae.
Habitat: 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 angustifolia
Linn.
Synonym: C. rhombifolia Roxb.
Family: Caesalpiniaceae.
Habitat: 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 fistula
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