BIOASSAY OF CASSIA FISTULA. L. (ARAGVADHA)

Summary

Aragvadha is one of the fifteen virechanas catharthics mentioned by Sushru–ta. Its cathartic action does not seem to have been studied. The sugar free residue from the pulp has been shown to possess cathartic property which is more than the total pulp. When the pulp or the sugar free residue is administered to mice, they pass 'Senna' like stools within 4 to 6 hours and the effect continues for 8 to 10 hours. The minimum effective dose of the pulp has been found to be 12 mg per mouse weighing about 20 g.

Attempts have been made to compare the cathartic activity of Aragvadha with that of the commonly used similar anthraquinone purgative – 'Senna' (Cassia angustifolia).

Dye meal method of Loewe, Collier et al. method of unformed faeces, Lou's method of wet faeces and the 'Yes or No' method of Fergusson have all been tried. Lou's method has been shown to be more suitable and more accurate.

In all the above methods, Senna has been used as the reference standard. Experimental data has been given to show that even Lou's method fails because of the variation in cathartic activity of the samples of Senna which have to be used as a standard.

A method has therefore been proposed in which the necessity of using a standard can be eliminated.

Using this method, the cathartic activity of a few samples of Senna and of Aragvadha have been assayed.

Zusammenfassung

Das Fruchtmus von Cassia fistula (Aragvadha) besitzt eine milde Abführwirkung. Sein zuckerfreier Rückstand zeigt die analoge Aktivität in verstärktem Maße. Mit Hilfe verschiedener, in der Literatur beschriebener Methoden wurde versucht, die Abführwirkung von Aragvadha zu ermitteln und mit der von Senna (Cassia angustifolia) zu vergleichen. Da alle diese Methoden nicht zu befriedigenden Ergebnissen führten, wurde ein neues Verfahren entwickelt.