Cassia italica (Miller) Lamarck

Quantity of produced by DMT and CRMT in 2002 of 21.635 confections of 20 g of powder each (432700 kg).

Sold in West Africa market and exported to Senegal however, figures not available.

Ground powder from 200 F CFA/ Kg (1 Euro=655 CFA). LAXA-CASSIA confection 145 F CFA at DMT.

Wild and also cultivated

Principally the areas of Bandiagara, (Region of Mopti) at 700 km from Bamako

Crude material and semi-processed in powder

The plant is cultivated by local healers in Mali.

Shade and sun drying.

Not threatened

Name: LAXA-CASSIA “Improved Traditional Prescription” produced with Cassia italicaleaves powder (MSSPA/DNSP, 1998, MS/INRSP/DMT 2004.). LAXA-CASSIA is used in the treatment of constipation. It is presented as Box of 4 bags of 5 g and give at the dose of one bag (5 g) one time the night for 2 à 3 days.

Roots and leaves are used to treat syphilis in Tanzania; the leaf juice is taken in Uganda against malaria, it is also ingredient of medication in snakebite and syphilitic ulcers. The fruit pulp is used to stimulate milk production. The root bark is used in mental disorders and to treat swollen breasts. The crushed leaves are taken in the bronchial pneumonia. The roots decoction is taken in fever and abdominal pain. The roots infusion or decoction is taken in Zimbabwe against infertility in women as an antiemetic; in case of painful menstruation. In East Africa and Ethiopia the bark is a tanning substance. In Niger the plant is considered as poisonous and plant decoction act as an abortifacient (Neuwinger, 1996). In West Africa, the plant is used as laxative and in hepatobiliary affections (Kerharo and Adam, 1974).

A new anthraquinone isolated from C. italica showed antimicrobial and antitumor activity (Kazmi et al., 1994). The effects of C. italica leaves and pods extracts was observed on intestinal motility. The results showed that the plant stimulates intestinal contractions in dose-dependent manner. Moreover, C. italica contractile activity was comparable to the acetylcholine and was inhibited by atropine. C. italica purgative activity is supported at least, by its stimulating effect on intestinal motility (Assane et al., 1994).

The crude ethanolic extract of C. italica, given at single oral doses of 0.25, 0.5 or 1 g/kg, on the central nervous system in mice. In treated mice, the extract caused dose-related inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction and in formalin-induced pain. Treatment with the extract at doses of 0.5 and 1 g/kg significantly increased the reaction time in the hot-plate and warm-water tail-flick tests. The extract of the plant caused slight dose-related impairment of motor control which was significant only at a dose of 1 g/kg. Treatment at three doses used did not affect the rectal temperature of normothermic mice, but was effective in significantly reducing the rectal temperature of hyperthermic rats. The crude ethanolic extract has CNS depressant properties, manifested as antinociception and sedation (Ali et al., 1997).

The ethanolic extract of the whole plant (root, stem leaves and pods) of C. italica was investigated for anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and prostaglandin (PG) release by rat peritoneal leucocytes, antineoplastic and antiviral activities. In rats, the extracts reduced carrageenin-induced paw swelling (100 mg/kg bw 31%) and fever (100 mg/kg bw 37%). The extract showed weak effect on writhing induced by acetic acid. A dose-dependent inhibition of PG release effect was observed using rat peritoneal leucocytes (Jain et al., 1997).

Coumarins, carotenoids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, tannins, sugars, reduced compounds, mucilage, sterols and triterpens. Nazirizadeh and Amin, 1985, isolated Sennoside A with laxative properties from Iranian C. italica. Ten flavonoids were isolated from the plant including the first report of tamarixetin 3-rutinoside-7-rhamnoside (El-Sayed et al., 1992). The preliminary studies of DMT demonstrated the presence of coumarins, flavonoids, The leaves of Cassia italica contain a hydrocarbon mixt. and b-sitosterol in the unsaponifiable mixt (El-Khrisy et al., 1992).

Phytochemical studies on Cassia italica have resulted in the isolation of b-sitosterol, stigmasterol, a-amyrin, 1,5-dihydroxy-3-Me anthraquinone and a new anthraquinone (I), the structure of which was assigned on the basis of spectral studies (Kazmi et al., 1994). The leaves of C. italica were analyzed for their hydrocarbon and fatty acid contents. The hydrocarbons in C. italica were a mixture of n-alkanes, n-C27, n-C28 and n-C31 were the dominating components. The fatty acids found in the plant were a mixture of saturated fatty acids with stearic acid being the main fatty acid. The different compounds of hydrocarbon and fatty acid contents shown among plants of different families suggested that components distribution could have value as taxonomic characters (Nassar et al., 1995). The contents of sennosides and rhein glycosides in leaves, pods, and callus of Cassia italica were investigated (Jain et al., 1996).

Macroscopic characters: Leaves with 5-7 pairs of leaflets, green-bluish, obliquely oblong-obovate, rounded at both ends, mucronate at the apex, 1.5-4 x 0.8-2.5 cm, mostly 3x1.5 cm. Little bitter in taste.

Microscopic characters: Epidermis formed by polygonal cells with wall rectilinear, covered by cuticule striate, paracytic stomata; glandular trichomes multiseriate, uniseriate covered bu cutilcule, heterogeneous mesophyll dorsoventral . Three palisade layers, vasculars vessels, syrounded by percyclic lignified fibers; without calcium oxalate prism. Powder colour green grey, taste little bitter without any distinct odour. Characterised by epidermic cells with wall rectilinear; cuticule striated; stomata parqcytic, trichomes non glandular, multiserite, fibers lignified, vessels; without calcium oxalate prism.

Physicochemical information

• Water soluble extractive 23%
• Moisture content 4-5% 
• Total ash 9% 
• Sulphated ash 15%

Recently, studies reported myocardial infarction (MI) has been reported on a 45- yr-old female patient who sustained acute inferior MI, 8 h following Cassia italica ingestion.  Subsequently, cardiac catheterization revealed patent coronary arteries is demonstrated, In conclusion the authors assume that, in this case, MI may partly be related herbal ingestion. Further studies and public awareness of this complication in certain communities are needed (El-Menyar et al., 2006).

Cassia italica clinical trials as laxatives in man was done (Nazirizadeh and Amin, 1985).

Not to be used in pregnancy and lactating mothers

LAXA CASSIA is used in the treatment of constipation at the dose of one bag (5 g) one time the night.

This medicine is on the National list of Essential Drug in Mali (MSSPA/DNSP, 1998, MS/INRSP/DMT 2004).

Marketing Authorization (AMM= Autorisation de Mise sur le Marché)