Cassiae semen: A review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology

Dong, Xiaoxv; Fu, Jing; Yin, Xingbin; Yang, Chunjing; Zhang, Xin; Wang, Wenping; Du, Xueying; Wang, Qingling; Ni, Jian

The estrogenic activity of C. obtusifolia seeds was evaluated by a recombinant yeast screening assay. The results revealed that 70% EtOH extracts of this drug exhibited estrogenic relative potency [half maximal effective concentration (EC 50 ) was 60.2 µg/ml) (105) . Cassiaside C 2 (compound 66) isolated from C. obtusifolia seeds exhibited a potent anti-allergic activity by inhibiting the histamine release from mast cells induced by antigen-antibody reaction (19) . Furthermore, gluco-aurantioobtusin (compound 25) from C. obtusifolia seeds possessed potent inhibitory activities against arachidonic-acid-, ADP-and collagen-induced platelet aggregations (39). Wu and Yen (106) demonstrated that the water extract of C. tora seeds exhibited potential antigenotoxic activities against the dietary mutagens Glu-P-1 and TrpP-1 in the Ames test and the Comet assay. The potential mechanisms may be associated with neutralization of the reactive intermediate of Trp-P-1 and an antioxidant effect of the tested compounds (106) . Anthraquinone aglycones (compounds 2, 7 and 8) and naphthopyrone glycosides (compounds 49 and 52) from C. tora seeds exhibited significant antimutagenic activity in vitro. The mechanism associated with these compounds may be mediated via interactions with a microsomal activating system (14) . Fu et al (107) reported that the water extract of Cassiae semen (10 mg/kg/day, for one week) effectively improved myocardial function, and attenuated myocardial ischemia and reperfusion-induced injury and apoptosis in diabetic animals, which is potentially attributable to the reduced plasma lipid levels and the triggered cell survival Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 signaling.