constipation

Cassia fistula

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Saint Lucia:

  • golden shower
  • kas

Martinique:

  • kas
Significant uses found by the TRAMIL surveys

fruit pulp, decoction, orally1
fruit pulp, maceration in milk, orally​​​​​​​1
fresh leaves, decoction, orally​​​​​​​1

Recommendations Preparation and Dosage References

According to the information available:

The use of the fruit pulp and fresh leaves in decoction taken orally for constipation is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the scientific information published.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or if the constipation persists for more than 3 days, seek medical attention.

Do not take laxatives or purgatives in case of intestinal obstruction or abdominal pain.

Do not use in cases of appendicitis or acute inflammation of the intestine3.

Traditional use for inflammation is classified in the REC category based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the toxicity studies. We do not have an appropriate experimental model to validate the pharmacological activity to support this traditional use.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 10 years.

For constipation:
prepare a decoction or an aqueous maceration with 20 to 40 grams of fruit pulp.

For decoctions, boil in 2 cups (1 / 2 litre) of water for 10 minutes in a covered vessel. Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup in the morning on an empty stomach.

For maceration, add the pulp to 2 cups (1 / 2 litre) of boiled water, leave to rest for 12 hours and drink 1 cup on an empty stomach in the morning.

For inflammation:
prepare a decoction with 30 grams of shoots (young leaves) in 1 litre of water, boil for 5 minutes. Cool and drink 1 cup 3 times a day.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

1 LONGUEFOSSE JL, NOSSIN E, 1990-95
Enquête TRAMIL. Association pour la valorisation des plantes médicinales de la Caraïbe AVPMC, Fort de France, Martinique.

2 JEAN-PIERRE L, 1988
TRAMIL survey. St Lucia national herbarium, Castries, St Lucia.

3 GRUENWALD J, BRENDLER T, JAENICKE C, 2004
Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines, Third Edition. Montvale, NJ, USA: Thomson Healthcare, Inc. 988pp.

4 SOLIS PN, VASQUEZ Y, AYALA H, GUPTA MP, 2002
Informe de validación de algunas plantas tramil. Fase iii. Informe TRAMIL. Centro de Investigaciones Farmacognósticas de la Flora Panameña CIFLORPAN, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Panamá, Panamá, Panamá.

5 KAJI NN, KHORANA ML, SANGHAVI MM, 1968
Studies on Cassia fistula Linn. Indian J Pharmacy 30:8-11.

6 ASSELEIH LMC, HERNANDEZ OH, SANCHEZ JR, 1990
Seasonal variations in the content of sennosides in leaves and pods of two Cassia fistula populations. Phytochemistry 29(10):3095-3099.

7 MAHESH VK, SHARMA R, SINGH RS, UPADHYA SK, 1984
Anthraquinones and kaempferol from Cassia species section fistula. J Nat Prod 47(4):733-751.

8 MORIMOTO S, NONAKA GI, CHEN RF, NISHIOKA I, 1988
Tannins and related compounds. LXI. Isolation and structures of novel bi- and triflavanoids from the leaves of Cassia fistula L. Chem Pharm Bull 36(1):39-47.

9 ABRAHAM KJ, DANIEL M, SABNIS SD, 1988
Phytoalexins of Cassia fistula Linn. and Morinda tomentosa Heyne.
Natl Acad Sci Lett (India) 11(4):101-102.

10 KAPADIA GJ, KHORANA ML, 1962
Active constituents of Cassia fistula pulp. II. Combined 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone derivatives. Lloydia 25(1)59-64.

11 SELVARAJ Y, CHANDER SM, 1978
Senna: its chemistry, distribution and pharmaceutical value. J Indian Inst Sci 60:179-196.

12 DANISH M, SINGH P, MISHRA G, SRIVASTAVA S, JHA KK, KHOSA RL, 2011
Cassia fistula Linn. (amulthus) - An important medicinal plant: a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties. J Nat Prod Plant Resour 1(1):101-118.

13 DUKE JA, ATCHLEY AA, 1986
Handbook of proximate analysis tables of higher plants. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press, p37.

14 KAPADIA GJ, KHORANA ML, 1962
Active constituents of Cassia fistula pulp. I. Colorimetric estimation of free rhein and combined sennidin-like compouds. Lloydia 25(1):55-58.

15 SARTORELLI P, CARVALHO CS, REIMÃO JQ, FERREIRA MJ, TEMPONE AG, 2009
Antiparasitic activity of biochanin A, an isolated isoflavone from fruits of Cassia fistula (Leguminosae). Parasitol Res 104(2):311-314.

16 SARTORELLI P, ANDRADE SP, MELHEM MS, PRADO FO, TEMPONE AG, 2007
Isolation of antileishmanial sterol from the fruits of Cassia fistula using bioguided fractionation. Phytother Res 21(7):644-647.

17 BARTHAKUR NN, ARNOLD NP, ALLI I, 1995
The Indian laburnum (Cassia fistula L.) fruit: an analysis of its chemical constituents. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 47(1):55-62.

18 ROSS SA, MEGALLA SE, BISHAY DW, AWAD AH, 1980
Studies for determining antibiotic substances in some Egyptian plants. part 1. screening for antimicrobial activity. Fitoterapia 51(6):303-308.

19 IYENGAR MA, PENDSE GS, NARAYANA N, 1966
Bioassay of Cassia fistula L. (aragvadha). Planta Med 14(3):289-301.

20 ABO KA, LASAKI SW, ADEYEMI AA, 1999
Laxative and antimicrobial properties of Cassia species growing in Ibadan. Nig J Nat Prod and Med 3:47-50.

21 BHAKTA T, MUKHERJEE PK, SAHA K, PAL M, SAHA BP, MANDAL SC, 1999
Evaluation of anti-inflammatory effects of Cassia fistula (Leguminosae) leaf extract on rats. J Herbs Spices Med Plants 6(4):67-72.

22 GarcIa GM, Coto MT, GonzAlez CS, Pazos L, 1998
Toxicidad aguda en ratones, del extracto acuoso de retoños frescos de Cassia fistula. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

23 PAZOS L, COTO T, GONZALEZ S, 2003
Toxicidad oral, aguda en ratones, del extracto acuoso de hojas frescas de Cassia fistula. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

24 PRADEEP K, MOHAN CV, GOBIANAND K, KARTHIKEYAN S, 2010
Protective effect of Cassia fistula Linn. on diethylnitrosamine induced hepatocellular damage and oxidative stress in ethanol pretreated rats. Biol Res 43:113-125.

25 AKHTAR MS, 1992
Hypoglycaemic activites of some indigenous medicinal plants traditionally used as antidiabetic drugs. J Pak Med Ass 42(11):271-277.

26 RUNNEBAUM B, RABE T, KIESEL L, PRAKASH AO, 1984
Biological evaluation of some medicinal plant extracts for contraceptive efficacy in females. Future aspects in contraception. Part II. Female Contraception. Boston, USA: MTP Press Ltd:pp115-128.

27 AKANMU MA, IWALEWA EO, ELUJOBA AA, ADELUSOLA KA, 2004
Toxicity potentials of Cassia fistula fruits as laxative with reference to senna. African J of Biomedical Research 7(1):23–26.

28 BHAKTA T, MUKHERJEE PK, MUKHERJEE K, BANERJEE S, MANDAL SC, MAITY TK, PAL M, SAHA BP, 1999
Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Cassia fistula leaf extract. J Ethnopharmacol 66(3):277-282.

29 BHAKTA T, BANERJEE S, MANDAL C, MAITY TK, SAHA BP, PAL M, 2001
Hepatoprotective activity of Cassia fistula leaf extract. Phytomedicine 8(3):220-224.

30 BRAMLEY A, GOULDING R, 1981
Laburnum "poisoning". Brit Med J (Clin Res Ed) 283(6301):1220-1221.

Ricinus communis

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Guadeloupe:

  • carapate
  • karapat
  • karapat blanc

Barbados:

  • castor oil

Dominica:

  • cawapat

Saint Lucia:

  • cawapat

Dominican Republic:

  • higuera

Haiti:

  • maskèti

Martinique:

  • palma Kristi
  • ricin
Significant uses found by the TRAMIL surveys

seed oil, orally5,8

Recommendations Preparation and Dosage References

According to published and other information: Use for constipation is classified as REC, based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys, toxicity studies, scientific validation and available published scientific information. Uses for ganglionar disorder, headache, toothache, earache, pneumonia, asthma, burns, rheumatism, twisting and trauma are classified as REC, based on the significant traditional use (OMS/WHO)4 documented in the TRAMIL surveys, and, when the leaf is topically applied, based on toxicity studies. When the seed oil is taken orally, a single dose should be used. For topical application to burns, strict hygiene measures should be observed in order to avoid contamination or additional infection.  Limit traditional use only to superficial burns (skin injuries) that are not extensive (covering less than 10% of body surface) and are located away from high risk areas such as face, hands, feet and genitals. Due to the health risks involved with pneumonia, asthma, earache and ganglionar disorder, an initial medical evaluation is recommended. The use of this resource can be considered complementary to medical treatment, unless it is contraindicated. Due to the possibility that an earache could signal a middle or inner ear infection, immediate medical evaluation is recommended.  Do not use if there are secretions from the ear and/or possible perforation of the eardrum. The seed can cause reactions of hypersensitivity. Should there be a notable worsening of the patient’s condition, the asthma persisting for more than 2 days, the headache and the twisting lasting more than 3 days or the pneumonia 5 days, seek medical attention. Only the oil that has been hand-made following traditional procedures, or the oil purchased in a pharmacy or authorized center should be used.  Industrially-produced ricin oil has not been subject to albumin detoxification through vaporization, and is a highly toxic product whose ingestion may lead to an imminently life-threatening situation.  

For constipation: Take the seed oil - purchased in a pharmacy or authorized health center- at doses of: 1-3 spoonfuls (15-45 mL) for adults, 1-3 teaspoonfuls (5-15 mL) for children older than 2 years, and 1-5 mL for children younger than 2 years.  Take orally in a single dose away from meals.  Can be taken with milk, tea or fruit juice28. For other uses: There is no available information establishing a means of preparation and dosage other than the documented traditional uses. Any medicinal preparation must be preserved cold and used within the 24 hours.  

1 WENIGER B, ROUZIER M, 1986
Enquête TRAMIL. Service Oecuménique d'Entraide SOE, Port au Prince, Haïti.

2 JEAN-PIERRE L, 1988
TRAMIL survey. St Lucia national herbarium, Castries, St Lucia.

3 EDOUARD JA, 1992
Enquête TRAMIL. Lycée agricole, Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe.

4 FAUJOUR A, MURREY D, CHELTENHAM-CORBIN B, CARRINGTON S, 2003
TRAMIL survey. enda-caribbean, IICA & UAG, Saint Thomas, Barbados.

5 BALZ E, BOYER A, BURAUD M, 2007
Enquête TRAMIL à Marie-Galante. U. Bordeaux 3, U. Paris XI Chatenay-Malabry, UAG, Guadeloupe.

6 GERMOSEN-ROBINEAU L, GERONIMO M, AMPARO C, 1984
Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

7 CHARLES C, 1988
TRAMIL survey. Movement for Cultural Awareness MCA, Roseau, Dominica.

8 BOULOGNE I, 2008
Enquête TRAMIL à Terre-de-Haut, Les Saintes, UAG, Guadeloupe (FWI).

9 WENIGER B, 1987-88
Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

10 BOYER A, BURAUD M, 2007
Enquête TRAMIL à La Désirade. U. Paris XI Chatenay-Malabry, UAG, Guadeloupe.

11 LONGUEFOSSE JL, NOSSIN E, 1990-95
Enquête TRAMIL. Association pour la valorisation des plantes médicinales de la Caraïbe AVPMC, Fort de France, Martinique.

12 HEGNAUER R, 1973
Chemotaxonomy der Pflanzen. Basel, Schweiz: Birkhauser Verlag.

13 CHONKEL A, 1985
A propos de quelques graines toxiques existant à la Guadeloupe. Thèse Pharmacie, Montpellier, France.

14 DUKE JA, 1992
Handbook of phytochemical constituents of GRAS herbs and other economic plants. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press.

15 DUKE JA, ATCHLEY AA, 1986
Handbook of proximate analysis tables of higher plants. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press. p140.

16 DE SOUSA M, Matos ME, Matos FJ, MACHADO MI, CRAVEIRO AA, 1991
Constituintes químicos ativos de plantas medicinais Brasileiras. Laboratorio de produtos naturais, Fortaleza, Brasil: Ceará Edições UFC.

17 TSUPRIENKOVA T, 1982
Patente de autor de champú para el lavado del cabello (título original en ruso). URSS, A61K 7/06(53).

18 WENIGER B, 1992
Activités biologiques (cytotoxicité, effet sur la croissance, effet immunomodulateur) de drogues végétales de la Caraïbe utilisées par voie locale contre les brûlures, dans des systèmes de cellules animales et humaines en culture. Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.

19 FRIAS AI, CABRERA H, GARCIA N, MORON F, VICTORIA MC, GERMOSEN-ROBINEAU, 2011
Efecto antiinflamatorio tópico del aceite de semilla de Ricinus communis (aceite de ricino) en el edema de la oreja inducido por aceite de Croton en ratones. Trabajo TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana, Cuba.

20 VERPOORTE R, DIHAL PP, 1987
Medicinal plants of Surinam IV. Antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants. J Etnopharmacol 21(3):315-318.

21 MISAS CA, HERNANDEZ NM, ABRAHAM AM, 1979
Contribution to the biological evaluation of Cuban plants. I. Rev Cub Med Trop 31:5-12.

22 TANIRA MO, AGEEL AM, AL-SAID MS, 1989
A study on some Saudi medicinal plants used as diuretics in traditional medicine. Fitoterapia 60(5):443-447.

23 CECIL, RUSELL LA FAYETTE, 1987
Compendio de Medicina Interna. Madrid, España: Ed. Interamericana.

24 MARTINEZ MJ, LOPEZ M, MOREJON Z, BOUCOURT E, FUENTES V, MORON F, 2005
Irritabilidad dérmica primaria de semillas frescas peladas y machacadas de Ricinus communis L. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Salvador Allende”, La Habana, Cuba.

25 MARTINEZ MJ, MOREJON Z, BOUCOURT E, FUENTES V, MORON F, 2003
Irritabilidad dérmica primaria de hoja seca y de hoja fresca de Ricinus communis L. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina “Dr. Salvador Allende”, La Habana, Cuba.

26 ROCHA E SILVA M, 1943
Studies on poisonous plants in the state of Sao Paulo. Toxicological expts on 27 plants which have been suspected of toxicity. Arq Inst Biol (Sao Paulo) 14:15.

27 CANELLA CFC, TOKARNIA CH, DOBEREINER J, 1966
Experiments with plants supposedly toxic to cattle in Northeastern Brazil, with negative results. Pesqui Agropecu Brasil Ser Vet 1:345-352.

28 KHOLKUTE SD, MUDGAL V, DESHPANDE PJ, 1976
Screening of indigenous medicinal plants for antifertility potentiality. Planta Med 29(2):150-155.

29 KANERVA L, ESTLANDER T, JOLANKI R, 1990
Long-lasting contact urticaria from castor bean. J Amer Acad Dermatol 23(2):351-355.

30 GOWANLOCH JN, BROWN CA, 1943
Poisonous snakes, plants and black widow spider of Louisiana, Dept. Conservation, New Orleans,Louisiana. Book.

31 OZTEKIN-MAT A, 1994
Plant poisoning in Turkey. Ann Pharm Fr 52(5):260-265.

32 KOPFERSCHMITT J, FLESCH F, LUGNIER A, SAUDER P, JAEGER A, MANTZ JM, 1983
Acute voluntary intoxication by ricin. Human Toxicol 2(2):239-242.

33 CANIGUERAL S, 2003
Ricinus comunis. Vademecum de Fitoterapia, Editorial Masson, Barcelona, España, Jul.30,2003. URL: www.masson.es/book/fitoterapia.html

34 IRWIN R, 1992
Toxicity studies of castor oil in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice (dosed feed studies). Natl Toxicol Program Tech Rep SER 1992:25.

35 WEE YC, GOPALAKRISHNAKONE P, CHAN A, 1988
Poisonous plants in Singapore - a colour chart for identification with symptoms and signs of poisoning. Toxicon 26(1):47.

36 ALONSO J, 1998
Tratado de fitomedicina. Bases clínicas y farmacológicas. Buenos Aires, Argentina: ISIS ediciones SRL. p840.

37 FERNANDO R, 1988
Plant poisoning in Sri Lanka. Toxicon 26(1):20.

38 PERIS JB, STUBING G, 2003
Ricinus comunis. Vademecum de Fitoterapia, Editorial Masson, Barcelona, España, Jul.30,2003. URL: www.masson.es/book/fitoterapia.html