Amaltas (Cassia fistula linn.) - A medicinal and pharmaceutical plant

Abstract

Today, interest in medicinal plants has increased dramatically. The description of these plants in ancient texts is very detailed, but in scattered form. We only discovered a few details in the Nighantus (an ancient pharmacopeia about medicinal plants). One should go through all available Ayurvedic texts for information on any medicinal plant. Amaltas (Cassia fistula linn.) has been popular since ancient times as a frequent remedy of choice for Ayurvedic physicians due to its various therapeutic properties. These  properties are laxative, antibacterial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, smooth muscle stimulating, hepato-protective, analgesic, hypoglycaemic, anticancer, abortifacient, anti-colic, anti-infertility, oestrogens, etc. useful in the treatment of diseases such as skin diseases, heart problems, gout, blood diseases, diabetes mellitus, herpes, feverish conditions, etc. It grows in Indian habitat abundantly, and deciduous woodlands of south India. Its concentrate mostly contains alkaloids, tars, flavonoids, rhein glucoside, fisulic corrosive. It also possesses the properties such as hypo-glycemic, laxative, anti-bacterial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, smooth muscle stimulant, hepato-protective, analgesic, anticancer, abortifacient, anti-colic, antifertility, estrogenic, etc. It has vast therapeutic importance, but not enough addressed by Ayurvedic point of view, even though many therapeutic potential references from classical Ayurvedic texts are available. Hence, an attempt was made to review its therapeutic potential through this article, which will guide the researchers and scholars for further study. The focus of the current review is on the literature review and the analysis of the medicinal, nutritional utility and pharmacological effects of Amaltas.