CASSIA AURICULATA

Common name: Tanner's Cassia • Hindi: Tarwar तरवड़ • Marathi: Tarwad तरवड • Kannada: Tangedi •Telugu: Tagedu • Tamil: Avaram • Gujarati: Awala • Malayalam: Avaram

Botanical name: Cassia auriculata   

Family: Caesalpiniaceae (Gulmohar family)

Synonyms: Senna auriculata

Geographical distribution:

Introduction: Tanner's Cassia is a branched shrub, growing upto 1-1.5 m high. It has a smooth reddish brown bark. It has many ascending branches and 8-10 cm long pinnate leaves. There are 8-12 pairs of leaflets, each 2-3 cm long. Bright yellow flowers appear in recemes at the end of branches. The flowers are 4-5 cm across. Upper three stamens are reduced to stamenoides. Fruit is a 7-12 cm long, flat brown pod.
Species Type: Shrub

Chemical composition: Fatty acid esters, fatty acid amide, triterpene, diterpene alcohols and phytol, terpenoids, tannin, flavonoids, saponin, cardiac glycosides and steroids, Grape seed oil, n-Hexadecanoic acid ,9-Octadecenoic acid, (E)- ,E,Z-1,3,12-Nonadecatriene , Stearic acid.

Medicinal uses: The root is used in decoctions against fevers, diabetes, diseases of urinary system and constipation. The leaves have laxative properties. The dried flowers and flower buds are used as a substitute for tea in case of diabetes patients. It is also believed to improve the complexion in women. The powdered seed is also applied to the eye, in case of chronic purulent conjunctivitis. In Africa the bark and seeds are said to give relief in rheumatism, eye diseases, gonorrhea, diabetes and gout. The plant has been shown to have antibacterial activity in the laboratory.