Cassia fistula
Golden shower
Cassia fistula, commonly known as the Golden Shower tree, is a striking medicinal plant celebrated for its vibrant yellow blooms. Renowned in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, its fruit pulp serves as a potent natural laxative. Beyond digestive health, its leaves and bark offer significant anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial therapeutic properties.
- Scientific name: Cassia fistula
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Cassia fistula, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is situated within the genus Cassia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cassia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Cassia fistula, is known by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 阿勒勃 (zh-hans) or 腊肠树 (zh-cn), while in Traditional Chinese, it is called 阿勒勃 (zh-hant). Regionally, it is known as 豬腸豆 (zh-hk) in Hong Kong and 阿勃勒 (zh-tw) in Taiwan.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 阿勒勃 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 阿勒勃 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 豬腸豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 腊肠树 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 阿勃勒 | Wikidata |
| pl | Strączyniec cewiasty | Wikidata |
| ta | கொன்றை | Wikidata |
| to | Mafatakikoula | Wikidata |
| de | Röhren-Kassie | Wikidata |
| id | Tengguli | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several distinct regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its range extends into the country of Egypt. It is also found within the Macaronesia region, specifically in Cape Verde. The distribution continues through West Tropical Africa, where it can be located in Gambia and Senegal. Finally, its presence is noted in West-Central Tropical Africa within Cameroon.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the Golden Shower tree, possesses several parts that are utilized in various traditional medicinal practices. The stem bark is often employed for its therapeutic properties, while the leaves, including each individual leaf, are frequently used in decoctions to treat inflammatory conditions. Additionally, the twigs are sometimes harvested for their specific chemical constituents, and the seeds are highly valued for their potent laxative effects and role in treating various ailments.- Total parts
- 20
- Scientific sources
- 36
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem bark | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| twigs | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit pulp | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cassia fistula has 46 reported phytochemicals identified across 58 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, rhein, Chrysophanol, catechin, chloroform.
- Total chemicals
- 46
- Scientific sources
- 58
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| rhein | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Chrysophanol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catechin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chloroform | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epicatechin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethyl acetate | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cassia fistula has 22 reported activities identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antiproliferative, Hepatoprotective.
- Total activities
- 22
- Scientific sources
- 44
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| Antibacterial | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anti-Itching | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiallergic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibiotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cassia fistula has 54 reported medicinal uses identified across 65 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, malaria.
- Total uses
- 54
- Scientific sources
- 65
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| oxidative stress | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus subtilis | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wound healing | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus cereus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| DNA damage | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-negative bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |