Pharmacognostical evaluation of Cassia angustifolia seeds

Abstract

Cassia angustifolia Vahl (Leguminosae), commonly known as "sanaai," is employed in various indigenous systems of medicine against several diseases, and almost every part of the plant has diverse medicinal properties. The seeds are used as an anthelmintic, digestive, and to treat piles, skin diseases, and abdominal troubles. According to Ayurveda, it has the property of reducing "kapha" and "Vata." The current communication provides a detailed account of the pharmacognostic investigation carried out on the seeds of C. angustifolia . The study includes macro- and microscopical details, SEM studies, fluorescence study of powder, physicochemical studies, and HPTLC fingerprinting. The seed is characterized by a finely ridged seed coat and palisade-like malpighian cells, discontinuous transparent linea lucida in the upper half of the malpighian layer, hilum simple and oblong. The study revealed that the seed samples procured from different places have similar morphological and physicochemical values. These observations are supported by TLC profiles. It was noted that the percentage of active principles (sennoside A and B) varied significantly in samples procured from different parts of the country. © 2006 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.