Blume.
Synonym: C. aromaticum Nees.
Family: Lauraceae.
Habitat: 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.
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
Synonym: C. verum Persl.
Family: Lauraceae.
Habitat: Western Ghats at low levels. Plantations of cinnamon are confined to Kerala State.
English: Cinnamon, Ceylon Cinnamon.
Ayurvedic: Tvak, Daaruchini, Chochaa, Choncha, Varaanga, Utkata, Daarusitaa (bark).
Unani: Daarchini (bark).
Siddha/Tamil: Elavangappattai.
Folk: Daalchini.
Action: Bark—carminative, astringent, antispasmodic, expectorant, haemostatic, antiseptic. Leaf— antidiabetic. Ground cinnamon is used in diarrhoea and dysentery; for cramps of the stomach, gastric irritation; for checking nausea and vomiting; used externally in toothache, neuralgia and rheumatism. The bark is included in medicinal preparations for indigestion, flatulence, flu, mothwashes, gargles, herbal teas.
Key application: As antibacterial and fungistatic. Internally, for loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints such as mild spastic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, bloating and flatulence. (German Commission E, ESCOP.) Contraindicated in stomach and duodenal ulcers. (WHO.)The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia indicated the use of dried mature leaves of Cinnamomum tamala and dried inner bark of C. zeylanicum in sinusitis.Cinnamaldehyde is the major constituent (74%) of the essential oil from bark.Major constituent of the leaf oil is eugenol (28-98%) and that of root- bark oil camphor (60%).Cinnamaldehyde is hypotensive, spasmolytic and increases peripheral blood flow; and it inhibits cyclooxy- genase and lipoxygenase enzymes of arachidonic acid metabolism.Cinnamaldehyde exhibits CNS stimulant effects at high doses. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)The bark oil and extracts exhibit antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities, and enhance trypsin activity.Eugenol content of the leaf oil is antiseptic and anaesthetic. It is not inter- changable with the bark oil.Root bark oil acts as a stimulant in amenorrhoea. The bark contains tannins (6.5%) consisting of tetrahydrox- yflavandiols; diterpenes, cinnzeylanin and cinnzeylanol.C. malabatrum (Burm. f.) Blume is equated with Jangali Daarchini.
Dosage: Dried inner bark—1-3 g powder. (API Vol. I.)... cinnamomum zeylanicum
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