CASSIA FISTULA LINN: A REVIEW OF PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES

Cassia fistula Linn. (Family: Caesalpinaceae), commonly known 'Sonali' or 'Bandarlati', has been used in different traditional system of medicines for various ailments since ancient times. Cassia fistula grows throughout in Bangladesh and in many other Asian countries such as India, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review on the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of Cassia fistula. In traditional medicine, it has been used in the treatment of diabetes, hematemesis, leucoderma, pruritis, intestinal disorder and as antipyretics, analgesic and laxative. The fruits, stem bark, and leaves of this plant contain a variety of biologically active compounds such as anthraquinones, flavonoids, flavon-3-ol derivatives, alkaloid, glycosides, tannin, saponin, terpenoids, reducing sugar and steroids those have various medicinal properties. The fruit and stem bark extract shows various activities like antipyretic, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, antitumor, antiulcer etc. The article reviews the various activities of the plant.