| Latin Names |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Cassia fistula
Linn. (Caesalpiniaceae)
|
Indian Laburnum,
Golden Shower,
Purging Cassia |
Aragvadha, Suvarnaka, Kritamala, Chaturangula |
Amaltas, Bandarlauri |
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 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.
References
- Kapadia & Khorana, Lloydia, 1962, 25, 55.
- Lillykutty, Pharmacological studies of Cassia fistula,
M.D. Thesis, 1968, Univ. Kerala.
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