Planta Med 2008; 74 - PC3
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084521

Variation of anthraquinone content in the leaves and pods of Cassia fistula

W Gritsanapan 1, S Nualkaew 1
  • 1Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, 447, Sri-Ayudthaya Road, Ratchatewi, Bangkok, 10400 Thailand

Cassia fistula Linn. is a medicinal plant of which the ripe pod has been traditionally used as a laxative drug in Thailand and many Asian countries. The pods contain anthraquinones in both aglycones and glycosides which are the active laxative form, while rhein is a major component [1, 2]. The leaves, which have not been used for laxative, were reported to contain sennosides, chrysophanic acid, phycion and a major constituent rhein [1]. The contents of anthraquinones in the pods and the leaves of C. fistula have not been compared. This study determined and compared the contents of total anthraquinone glycosides and a major anthraquinone rhein in the ripe pods collected from various parts of Thailand in summer (April) and in the leaves collected in summer, rainy season and winter. The contents of total anthraquinone glycosides in the ripe pods and in the leaves collected from the North, North-East, Central and South of Thailand were within a range of 0.21–0.67% (average 0.44%) and 0.05–0.74% (average 0.32%) dry weight, respectively. The contents of rhein in the ripe pods and in the leaves of C. fistula determined by TLC-densitometric method were 0.05–0.14% (average 0.09%) and 0.002–0.29% (average 0.12%) dry weight, respectively. The ripe pods containing higher contents of anthraquinone glycosides and of a major compound rhein, were found in the southern >north-eastern>central>northern samples while the high anthraquinones content in the leaves was found in summer (March-June) samples from the North and the South where the weather is not warm as in the central and north-eastern parts. The results support a traditional way of collection of leaf drugs of Thai people and the recommendation that medicinal leaves should be collected before flowering period of plants. According to the Standard of ASEAN Herbal Medicine, the leaves of C. fistula collected from the North and the South of Thailand in Summer which contain >0.5% of anthraquinone glycosides might be used as a source of anthraquinone laxative herbal drug as same as the ripe pods.

Acknowledgements:This study was granted by Plant Genetic Conservation Projects, The Royal Chittralada Projects, Dusit Palace, Thailand.

References: 1. Gritsanapan, W. (1983) Mahidol Uni J Pharm Sci 10: 90–96.

2. Bruneton, J. (1995) Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Lavoisier Publishing, Paris.