Cassia alata
Cassia alata L is an important medicinal tree, as well as
an ornamental flowering plant in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It also known
as emperor's candlesticks, candle bush, candelabra bush, Christmas candles,
empress candle plant, ringworm shrub, or candle tree.
Geographic range
Cassia alata is native to most of the Neotropics (from Mexico and the West Indies to Paraguay) and can be found in diverse habitats. In the tropics, it grows up to an altitude of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). It is an invasive species in Austronesia.
Description
·
shrub stands 3–4 metres (9.8–13.1 ft) tall, with
leaves 50–80 centimetres (20–31 in) long.
·
The leaves close in the dark.
·
The inflorescence looks like a yellow candle.
·
The fruit, shaped like a straight pod, is up to
25 cm long. Its seeds are distributed by water or animals.
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The seed pods are nearly straight, dark brown or nearly
black, about 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long, and 15 millimetres
(0.59 in) wide. On both sides of the pods is a wing that runs the length
of the pod. Pods contain 50 to 60 flattened, triangular seeds.
Propagation
Seed - requires
pre-treatment to soften the hard seedcoat and allow the ingress of water. This can be done by soaking the seed in a small
amount of nearly boiling water (which cools down quickly and does not cook the
seed) and then soaking the seed for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. Alternatively,
a small area of the seed coat can be abraded, being careful not to damage the
embryo.
Medicinal uses
- Ringworm bush is widely used as a traditional medicine, particularly valued for its laxative effect and its effective treatment of several skin conditions, including ringworm and scabies. Research has tended to confirm the validity of these traditional treatments.A number of anthraquinone derivatives have been isolated from the leaves, such as aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, isochrysophanol and rhein, as well as the alkaloid tyramine and the common steroid beta-sitostero.
- Crude leaf extracts have shown antibacterial activity against a range of bacteria (such as Dermatophilus congolensis, which causes a serious skin condition in cattle), antifungal properties (such as against Pityriasis versicolor in humans), and also antitumour activity.
- The petals contain anthraquinones, glycosides, steroids, tannins and volatile oil. Extracts of the petals have bactericidal activity against gram-positive bacteria but not against gram-negative bacteria.
- The leaves are laxative. They are taken internally as a remedy for constipation and to purify the blood. The leaves are decocted, with or without Tripogandra serrulata and Persea americana, as a treatment for biliousness and hypertension.
- The leaves are widely used in treating skin diseases. hey can be applied as a tincture; as a poultice; powdered, then mixed with oil as an ointment; or the sap can be spread over the affected area - they form an effective treatment for skin blemishes, scabies, ringworm and other fungal skin infections.
- The bark is used to treat skin diseases, diarrhoea, worms, parasitic skin diseases, scabies and eczema.
- The root is laxative. An infusion is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, tympanites, uterus problems and filaria worm expulsion. The root is applied externally to treat sores and skin fungi.
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