PHARMCOPIEAL STANDARDS FOR THE FRUITS OF CASSIA FISTULA AND CASSIA PODOCARPA

Abstract

The pods of Cassia fistula L. and C. podocarpa Guill. et Perr. known for their laxative properties were examined macro- and microscopially. The pods can be distinguished in powder form by the presence of uniseriate trichomes in the C. podocarpa, which are absent in C. fistula. Chemical evaluation showed that both pods contain freee and combined (O- and C- glycosides) anthraquinones, while biological evaluation of the infusions of the pods of the two Cassia species showed that there is a significant differences in the amounts of wet faeces produced, with C. fistula showing a higher activity than C. podocarpa at the same dose levels when compared with Senna (Cassia acutifolia Delile) under the same experimental conditions. The Biological senna Equivalent and Percentage Senna Activity for C. fistula and C. podocarpa are 1.13, 113% and 0.70, 70% respectively at 500mg/kg. Both Cassia species pods can as substitutes for the official senna.


Key Words: Cassia fistula, C. podocarpa, Leguminosae-Caesalpinoidiae, anthraquinones laxative


Nig. J. Nat Prod. And Med. Vol.4 2000: 23-26