DIVERSIDAD GENÉTICA Y MEJORAMIENTO DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants and improvement of medicinal herbs:

Interspecific variations among eight species of Cassia L. were evaluated on the basis of the free amino acid composition, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of total seed protein, and mitochondrial (mt) DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) to understand their phylogenetic relationships. Similarities in seed protein banding patterns were detected for morphologically distinct species. Analysis of mtDNA RFLP supported the protein data. Cluster and pairing affinity or similarity index analysis of data from both total protein and mtDNA RFLP grouped the eight species into two clusters- 1. C. occidentalis, C. sophera, C. mimosoides and C. tora, and 2. C. alata, C. siamea, C. fistula and C. renigera. Homology in the free amino acid composition adds evidence to their common ancestry.

Herb 90 cm, pathside, San Andrés.

Uses: chop leaves, steep in water, bathe for itches, sores, and skin infections; boil leaves in water with leaves of other species, bathe children for malaise. Comerford 39, 7 Jul 1994.

PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Semillas.

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Antifebrífugas.

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: The Cassia plants are well known for a group of chemicals with strong laxative actions called anthraquinones. The most widely used species of Cassia in herbal medicine is known as senna (Cassia senna or C. acutifolia). The actions of the anthraquinones chemicals are the basis of senna’s widespread use as a purgative and strong laxative. While fedegoso does contain a small amount of these anthraquinones, it was shown in a rat study not to have the same strong purgative and laxative effects as senna. The main plant chemicals in fedegoso include: achrosine, aloe-emodin, anthraquinones, anthrones, apigenin, aurantiobtusin, campesterol, cassiollin, chryso-obtusin, chrysophanic acid, chrysarobin, chrysophanol, chrysoeriol, emodin, essential oils, funiculosin, galactopyranosyl, helminthosporin, islandicin, kaempferol, lignoceric acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, mannitol, mannopyranosyl, matteucinol, obtusifolin, obtusin, oleic acid, physcion, quercetin, rhamnosides, rhein, rubrofusarin, sitosterols, tannins, and xanthorin.

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: Uruguay. 

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Origen:
Es una especie de ámbito tropical. Se le encuentra como maleza en todos los trópicos, pero su lugar de origen es desconocido. En Honduras esta planta crece, comúnmente, cerca de las casas o en terrenos abandonados.

Usos etnomédicos y modo de empleo:
En Honduras, se recomienda el uso de las semillas tostadas para los nervios.  La hoja se usa en cataplasma sobre la frente para cefalea y poder dormir. También se utiliza para calmar los dolores estomacales (HOUSE ET AL., 1995). El zumo de la hoja, en fricción de la piel para mala calidad de la sangre (GUPTA, 1995; ROBINEAU, 1996). En la República Dominicana, la decocción de la planta entera se usa por vía oral para la fiebre.

Leaf, whole plant: belly pain, childbirth, cold, colic, fever, headache

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Uses: ringworm, prostate, dengue, local pain, fever,malaria, viral, liver, hepatitis, jaundice, poor digestion, worm, flu, respiratory problems, sinusities, caugh.                                                 

Origin: Brazil.   

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Origin:
Throughout India, up to an altitude of 1.500m.

Action:
Purgative, diuretic, febrifugal, expectorant, stomachic.
Leaves—used internally and externally in scabies, ringworm and other skin diseases. A hot decoction is given as an antiperiodic.
Seeds— used for cough, whooping cough and convulsions. Roasted seeds (roasting destroys the purgative property) are mixed with coffee for strength.

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Origin

Jamaica

Folk medicinal uses

The seeds of this species are dried, beaten up, and used as a coffee substitute. The drink prepared from them has a reputation for usefulness in kidney and bladder troubles and malaria. it is also said to be useful for palpitations and high blood pressure. The leaves are probably used for constipation, pain, fever and colds. The root is said to be diuretic and used for colds.

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Origin

Jamaica

Folk medicinal uses

Considerable confusion appears to exist among Jamaicans who use "tea bushes" as to the identity and respective merits of the plants called dandelion and piss-a-bed. It is certain that some informants who claim that the plants are different distinguish them on characteristics of so slight a botanical nature that they have presented to us specimens of C. occidentalis under both names: we have, moreover, been assured that, while piss-a-bed is given to children (and adults) with weak bladders, dandelion is "good for the kidneys" which seems to imply a diuretic character. Both Dancer and Wright give the name piss-a-bed to C. occidentalis which they describe as diuretic and aperient. Other writers describe the root only, as diuretic. We have had similar confused accounts of C. ligustrina. At Bath an informant identified C. occidentalis as piss-a-bed and attributed to it antidiuretic properties: the plant presented as dandelion was a further unidentified Cassia sp. Which was described as "good for" the kidneys, back pains, the stomach and shortness of breath. C. ligustrina-The leaves of this species are employed in Cuba as a purge. C. occidentalis-In addition to uses already recorded the leaves of this species are described in the literature as providing a drink and wash for skin diseases; the seeds as an application for ringworm; and the leaves and roots a3 a medicine for jaundice, dropsy, dysentery, diarrhoea, liver troubles and gonorrhoea. We have also been told that the plant (with soil still adhering to the roots) soaked in proof rum makes an excellent medicine for the prevention of an attack of malaria.

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Origin:
Northern sector of Kibale National Park, Uganda
Disease treated:
Snake bite, tape worms: FL

1) TOURSARKISSIAN, Martín.-- Plantas medicinales de Argentina : sus nombres botánicos, vulgares, usos y distribución geográfica.-- Buenos Aires : Hemisferio Sur, 1980, p.69.

2) Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases [en línea]. [Consulta: 31de Octubre, 2008 ] . Disponible en: http://www.rain-tree.com/fedegosa.htm

3) Mondal, A.K. ; Mondal, S. ; Mandal, S. Molecular taxonomy of the genus Cassia L. based on seed protein and mitochondrial DNA RFLP. Phytomorphology: An International Journal of Plant Morphology. 2000, vol. 50, nº 1, p.p. 15-25 .

4) COMERFORD, Simon C. Economic Botany. vol. 50 . -- p. 327 - 336 1996

5) Barret, Bruce Economic Botany vol. 48, nro. 1 .-- p. 8-20 1994

6) Gupta, Mahabir P.; Santana, Ana Isabel; Espinosa, Alex/ Plantas medicinales de Panamá. sd: sd. - p. sd.

7) Khare, C.P./ Indian Medicinal Plants. -- Nueva Dheli: Springer, 2007 . - p. 836.

8) Asprey, G.F: Phylis Thornton/ Medicinal plants of Jamaica. Parts I & II. – p. 7.

9) Asprey, G.F; Phylis Thornton/ Medicinal plants of Jamaica. Parts III & IV. – p. 51.

10) Jane Namukobe; et al. / Traditional plants used for medicinal purposes by local communities around the Northern sector of Kibale National Park, Uganda. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2011(136) p. 238.