Cassia occidentalis (Kasamarda)

It is a herb which grows upto 2 m and possess yellow flowers. It s found all over India on road sides as weed. Though Caraka did not mention it among the ganas, Sushruta and Vagbhata have included it under Surasadi gana. Vagbhata denoted it with a synonym Kasaghna.

Botanical Description – Branched, annual herb; leaves alternate, pinnately divided, without a conspicuous gland at the base of the leaf stalk; leaflets of 4-5 pairs; stipules usually not persistent and not conspicuously striated; flowers yellow, 5-parted; fruit flattened.

Major Chemical Constituents– Cassiollin, a phytosphanol, physcion.

Part Used– Root, Seed, leaf

Dosage– Root decoction 40-80ml; seed powder 3-6g, leaf juice 10-20 ml.