Cassia Seed

Fresh seeds contain chrysophanol, physcion, aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin glucoside, emodin anthrone, physcion, obtusin, aurantio-obtusin, as well as questin, cassiaside-related compounds, and cassialactone. They also contain vitamin A.

1. Hypotensive effect: The aqueous infusion, hydroalcoholic infusion, and alcoholic infusion of cassia seeds all lower blood pressure in anesthetized dogs, cats, and rabbits. 2. Antibacterial effect: The alcoholic extract of the seeds inhibits staphylococci, diphtheria bacilli, typhoid bacilli, paratyphoid bacilli, E. coli, and others, whereas the aqueous extract is ineffective. The aqueous infusion (1:4) also shows varying degrees of inhibition against some dermatophytes in vitro.

Use with caution in patients with deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach or loose stools.