Chemical constituents, usage and pharmacological activity of Cassia alata

Abstract

Cassia alata or locally known as Ketepeng Cina (Indonesia) and Gelenggang (Malaysia) has been used as a traditional medicine to treat various diseases, especially skin diseases. In addition, C. alata has been reported to have potential anti allergic, anti inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, and antifungal. Metabolite compounds that have been isolated from C. alata include flavones, flavonols, flavonoids glycosides, alatinon, alanonal and β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside. The compounds have been isolated mainly from the leaves. Further identification is needed to discover the secondary metabolites from other parts of the plant such as seed, flower and bark which are reported to have potent antibacterial and antifungal activity. Therefore, this article highlights the secondary metabolites and biological activity of this plant which has been shown to have pharmacological properties against selected diseases.

The effect of Cassia alata L. leaf extract on egg hatching and survival of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus larvae

“…Based on the results of the study, it was found that the use of C. alata leaf extract could increase egg hatchability and survival of P. hypophthalmus (Table 1), where the higher the dose of extract used in the treatment will also increase the hatchability of fish eggs. Fatmawati et al [6] stated that C. alata leaf extract contains chemical compounds that can be used as antimicrobials. Furthermore, Makinde et al [12] said that the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of C. alata leaves found that they had more antifungal properties than antibacterial.…”

“…One of the natural ingredients that has the potential to inhibit the growth of pathogens in fish is the use of Cassia alata leaves. This plant is known by different names in different countries, namely as Gelenggang (Malaysia), Ketepeng Badak or Ketepeng Cina (Indonesia) and bush ringworm (Australia) and has been used as as traditional medicine to treat various diseases [5,6].…”

Senna podocarpa Emulgel: A Herbal Alternative for Chemical Burn Wound Treatment

“…Phytochemical screening for secondary metabolites in the hydro-ethanolic extract of SP leaves was performed using standard phytochemical methods reported in the literature. 10 11 Results suggested that alkaloid, saponin, tannin, cardiac glycoside, flavonoid, anthraquinone, and phenol were present in the SP extract, while steroids were absent. Tannins, flavonoids, and phenols are potent antioxidants, and antioxidants have been implicated in wound healings by improving vascularization and reducing lipid peroxidation which in turn prevents necrosis of cells and promotes cell proliferation.…”

“…The presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, cardiac-active glycoside, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and phenols in the extract was assessed respectively as the following according to the reported studies 10,11 :…”

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Effect of the Extracts of the Pods of Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (Fabaceae)

“…The antifungal activity of P. thonningii against C. albicans was studied previously with the ethanolic extract showing significant activity in inhibiting the growth of cells and an MIC of 0.312 μ g/mL. Other studies [ 38 , 39 ] have found that the ethanol leaf extract of Cassia alata caused a dose-dependent effect on Candida albicans , Microsporum canis, and Trichophyton mentagrophyte . The phytochemical and antifungal analysis of the ethanolic extract of P. thonningii showed the presence of flavonoids which were effective in inhibiting the growth of C. albicans , Colletotrichum musae, and Sclerotium rolfsii [ 40 – 42 ].…”