ISSN: 22312781
ABSTRACT
Caesalpinia Crista of family Fabaceae is a moderately size deciduous tree, growing wild
throughout the deciduous forest of India. It is popular in indigenous system of medicine like
Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy. In the traditional system of medicine various
plant parts such as leaves, stem, root, seed and oils are used as anthelmentic, febrifugal,
periodic, tonic, and vesicant. They are used to treat colic, convulsions, leprosy, and palsy. The
oil from the seeds is said to soften the skin and remove pimples. The bark is antiperiodic,
rubefacient and to counteract toothache.
The present review is therefore, an effort to give a detailed survey of the literature on its
Phytopharmacological and medicinal properties and traditional uses.
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PHYTOCONSTITUENTS PRESENT stem part and root part constituents two novel
The preliminary phytochemical investigation peltogynoids, pulcherrimin and 6-
showed the presence of methoxypulcherrimin, one novel
carbohydrates, alkaloids, Glycosides, tannins, homoisoflavonoid, 8-methoxybonducellin,
flavonoids & Coumarins. and the known compounds bonducellin, 2, 6-
dimethoxybenzoquinone, 2', 4', 4-
TRADITIONAL/AYURVEDIC UTILITIES 4 trihydroxychalcone and 2', 4-dihydroxy-4'-
Caesalpinia crista is used in vast range of methoxychalcone.
diseases. It is the best panacea for abdominal From the methanolic extract of seed kernels of
pain due to flatulence, as it effectively Caesalpinia crista from Myanmar, five new
alleviates the vata dosha. The powder of its cassane-type diterpenes, caesalpinins MA-ME
roasted seeds with ghee mitigates the (1-5), and three new norcassane-type
condition and relieves the pain. During diterpenes, norcaesalpinin MA-MC (6-8), have
postpartum period, the abdominal pain is been isolated, together with 12 known
eliminated with the roasted seed powder, cassane-type diterpenes, 14(17)-
asafoetida, ghee and little amount of salt. The dehydrocaesalmin F, caesaldekarin e,
seeds powder, given with milk, controls the caesalmin B, caesalmin C, caesalmin E, 2-
diarrhea. The skin of the seed being astringent acetoxy-3-deacetoxycaesaldekarine, 2-
is beneficial as a medicament for diarrhea, acetoxycaesaldekarine, caesalpinin C, 7-
dysentery and colitis. In worm infestations, acetoxybonducellpin C, caesalpinin E,
the juice of its leaves or powder of its roasted norcaesalpinin B, and 6-acetoxy-3-
seeds is given along with palasa, amra and deacetoxycaesaldekarine.
haridra.
Latakaranja (combination of its roasted seeds PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
powder and pippali (1:1) with honey) is the 1. Anthelmintic activity6
best medication for malarial fever. The The bark extract of Caesalpinia crista (L.) were
combination of its roasted seeds powder, evaluated for anthelmintic activity using adult
pippali (1:1) is given with honey, earthworms, which exhibited a spontaneous
approximately 0.5 gm., three times a day for 3- motility (paralysis) With 50 mg/ml of aqueous
4 days duration. Another combination extract the effects were compared with 3%
recommended for malaria is the powders of piperazine citrate. There was no final recovery
marica and latakaranja (Sakra vati). The in the case of worms treated with aqueous
splenic enlargement due to malaria, responds extract in contrast to piperazine citrate, the
well to latakarnja. The leaves fried in ghee, worms recovered completely within 5 hrs.
eliminate vata and relieve constipation, hence This result shows the anthelmintic nature of
valuable in piles. the extract.
The seeds are stimulant to the uterus, improve Anthelmintic activity of Caesalpinia crista (L.)
the menstrual discharge in oligomenorrhea against trichostrongylid nematodes of sheep,
and reduce the pain in lower abdominal study showed C. crista possess anthelmintic
region. The skin of the seed is extremely activity in vitro and in vivo, supporting its
beneficial in the treatment of leucorrhea. The traditional use in Pakistan.
seeds also render contraceptive activity.
Latakaranja is used as a bitter tonic. It is also a 2. Antimalarial activity7
useful remedy for cough and asthma, as it Most of the plant from Caesalpinia species
alleviates the kapha dosha. For this purpose, shows antimalarial activity. The isolated
the tender leaves (fresh juice) are given along diterpenes such as 44 cassane- and norcassane-
with the honey to ward off the mucous type diterpenes. Most of the tested diterpenes
secretions. The oil prepared from the leaves, is showed antimalarial activity, norcaesalpinin E
a valuable nervine tonic. showed the most potent activity, more than
the drug chloroquine.
PHYTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES5
The literature has revealed that seeds and 3. Antioxidant activity8
leaves of plant contain around fourteen Study showed the methanolic extract of
compounds. The isolated compounds are Caesalpinia crista has potent antioxidant
cassane-and norcassane-type diterpenes. The activity and ROS scavenging activity as well as
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