Akapulko

Cassia alata Linn.

RINGWORM BUSH
Yi bing jue ming
Scientific names Common names
Cassia alata Linn. Adadisi (Ting.)
Herpetic alata Raf. Akapulko (Sul., Tag.)
Senna alata (L.) Roxb. Ancharasi (Ig.)
Cassia bracteata L. f. Andadisi (Ilk.)
Cassia herpetica Jacq. Andadasi-a-dadakdel (Ilk.)
Amdadasi-g-bugbugtong (Ilk.)
Andalan (Sul.)
Bayabasin (Tag.)
Bikas-bikas (Tag.)
A Buni-buni (Bag.)
A Gamotsa-buni (Tag.)
Kapurko (Tag.)
Kapis (Sub.)
Katanda (Tag.)
Kasitas (Bik., Bis.)
Pakagonkon (Tag.)
Pakayomkom-kastila (Pamp.)
Palo-china (Bis.)
Sunting (C. Bis.)
Sonting (Tag.)
Gelenggang Besar (Malaysia)
Chumhet thet (Thailand)
Emperor's candlesticks (Engl.)
Guajava (Engl.)
Candle bush (Engl.)
Candle cassia (Engl.)
Candlestick plant (Engl.)
Candelabra bush (Engl.)
Ringworm bush or shrub (Engl.)
Ringworm senna (Engl.)
Wild senna (Engl.)
Yi bing jue ming (Chin.)

Other vernacular names
BURMESE : Pw:hs:m:za.li, Thing~Bau: m:za.li.
CHINESE: Y bing jue mng, Chi jia jue mng, You chi jue ming,
CZECH : Kasie k?dlat.
FRENCH : Bois dartre, Casse aile, Dartrier, pis d'or , Kas ail (Creole - Caribbean), Zb dartres.
GERMAN : Kerzenstrauch.
HINDI : Dadmurdan, Datkapat, Senamukhi.
JAPANESE: Kasshia arata, Kyandorubusshu.
LAOTIAN : Khi lek ban.
PORTUGUESE : Alcapulco, Dartrial, Fedegoso, Fedegoso-gigante, Mangerioba-do-par, Mangerioba-
grande, Mata-pasto-grande.
SINHALESE : Eth thora.
SPANISH : Bajagua, Flor del Secreto, Guacamaya Francesa, Guajavo, Hierba de playa, Majaguilla,
Majaguillo, Mocuteno, Mocot, Soroncontil.
THAI : Chumhet thet.
VIETNAMESE : Cy mu?ng tru, Mu?ng tru, Tri Mu?ng tru , Mu?ng lc, Mu?ng x?c lc.

Botany
Akapulko is a coarse, erect, branched shrub, 1.5 to 3 meters high. Leaves are pinnate and 40 to 60
centimeters long, with orange rachis on stout branches. Each leaf has 16 to 28 leaflets, 5 to 15
centimeters in length, broad and rounded at the apex, with a small point at the tip. Leaflets gradually
increase in size from the base towards the tip of the leaf. Inflorescences are terminal and at the axils of
the leaves, in simple or panicled racemes, and 10 to 50 centimeters long. Flowers are yellow, about 4
centimeters inn diameter, at the axils of thin, yellow, oblong, concave bracts which are 2.5 to 3
centimeters long. Pod is rather straight, dark brown or nearly black, about 15 centimeters long and 15
millimeters wide. On both sides of the pods there is a wing that runs the length of the pod. Pod contains
50 to 60 flattened, triangular seeds.

Distribution
- Abundant throughout the Philippines in settled areas at low and medium altitudes.
- Occasionally planted as ornamental or for its medicinal properties.
- Introduced from tropical America; now pantropic.
Additional botanical info
Propagated rapidly by seeds (dispersed by waters) or stem cuttings. Basal stem may produce coppices
(suckers).
Seeds from mature pods can be collected during the season and immediately planted or stored for six
months.
Constituents
Chrysophanic acid
(chrysophanol); oxymethyl
anthraquinone, 2.2%; aloe-
emodin; rhein; cassiaxanthone;
tannins; saponins; alkaloids.
Study of chemical
constituents yielded 12
compounds: chrysoeriol,
kaempferol, quercetin, 5,7,4'-
trihydroflavanone, kaempferol-
3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--
>6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside,
17-hydrotetratriacontane, n-
dotriacontanol, n-triacontanol,
palmitic acid ceryl ester, stearic
acid, palmitic acid.
Phytochemical studies of
crude extract of stem bark
yielded important secondary
metabolites - tannins, steroids,
alkaloids, anthraquinones,
terpenes, carbohydrates and
saponins.
Phytochemical study of leaves yielded 12 compounds viz. chrysoeriol, kaempferol, quercetin, 5,7,4'-
trihydroflavanone, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--
>6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 17-hydrotetratriacontane, n-dotriacontanol, n-triacontanol, palmitic acid
ceryl ester, stearic acid, palmitic acid. (29)
Properties
Saponin acts as a laxative and expels intestinal parasites.
Its fungicide property derives from chrysophanic acid.
Plant considered alterative, abortifacient, aperient, purgative, sudorific, hydragogue, diuretic, vermifuge.


Parts utilized
Leaves, seeds, and flowers.
Uses
Folkloric
- The seeds used for intestinal parasitism.
- Tincture from leaves reported to be purgative.
- Decoction of leaves and flowers for cough and as expectorant in bronchitis and asthma. Also used as
astringent.
- Crushed leaves and juice extract used for ringworm, scabies, eczema, tinea infections, itches, insect
bites, herpes.
- Preparation: Pound enough fresh leaves; express (squeeze out) the juice and apply on the affected
skin morning and evening. Improvement should be noticed after 2 - 3 weeks of treatment.
- Decoction of leaves and flowers used as mouthwash in stomatitis.
- In Africa, the boiled leaves are used for hypertension.
- In South American, used for skin diseases, stomach problems, fever, asthma, snake bites and venereal
disease.
- In Thailand, leaves are boiled and drunk to hasten delivery.
- As laxative, boil 10-15 dried leaves in water, taken in the morning and bedtime.
- For wound treatment, leaves are boiled and simmered to one-third volume, then applied to affected
areas twice daily.
- In India, plant used as cure for poisonous bites and for venereal eruptions.
- In Nigeria locally used for treatment of ringworm and parasitic skin diseases.
- In the Antilles, Reunion, and Indo-China, plant is used as hydrogogue, sudorific, and diuretic.
- Decoction of roots used for tympanites.
- Wood used as alterative.
- Sap of leaves used as antiherpetic.
- Leaf tincture or extract used as purgative.
- Juice of leaves mixed with lime-juice for ringworm.
- Leaves taken internally to relieve constipation.
- Strong decoction of leaves and flowers used as wash for eczema.
- Infusion of leaves and flowers used for asthma and bronchitis.
- Strong decoction of leaves used as abortifacient.
- Seeds used as vermifuge.
Ointment preparation
(1) Wash fresh leaves thoroughly and cut in small pieces.
(2) Add one glass of cooking oil or coconut oil to one glass of cut fresh leaves.
(3) Fry until crispy.
(4) Remove from the heat; strain.
(5) Cut 2 white candles (Esperma No. 5) into small pieces.
(6) In a cooking pot, pour the strained oil together with the candle pieces; stir until the candle has melted.
(7) Pour the mixture into a clean container; cover when cool.
(8) Apply the ointment to affected areas twice daily.
(Source: <www.doh.gov.ph/pitahc>)

Studies
Antifungal: (1) Crude ethanol and aqueous extract of Cassia alata (GELENGGANG BESAR) leaves
and bark were tested for antifungal activity in vitro against three fungi Aspergillus
fumigatus, Microsporum canis and Candida albicans. The study showed the C. alata to be effective
against C. albicans, confirming its potential as a natural source of antifungal remedy. (2) Ethanolic
extract of leaves showed potent activity against dermatophytes without effect on C albicans, A fumigatus
or non-dermatophytes. (3) Study yielded an anthraquinone high-yielding Senna alata leaf extract with
antifungal activity against dermatophytes Tricophyton rubrum, T mentagrophytes and Microsporum
gypseum. (3) Study of ethanolic extract of CA leaves showed high activity against various species of
dermatophytic fungi but low activity against non-dermatophytic fungi. (4) In a study using methanolic,
ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts to screen for phytochemicals, antibacterial and antifungal
activities, the methanolic extract showed the highest activity.
Analgesic: (1) Ethanol and hexane extract of Senna alata leaves showed analgesic effect in mice. (2)
Study of leaf extract of C. alata in mice showed analgesic activity. Fifty milligrams of kaempferol 3-O-
sophoroside was equivalent to 100 mg of the extract.
Phytochemistry /
Antimicrobial Activity: (1)
Nigerian studies showed
activity of the methanol leaf
extract on Bacillus subtilis,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Escherichia coli,
Staphylococcus aureus,
Proteus vulgaris. Secondary
metabolites were identified
(saponins, tannins, phenolic
compounds, eugenol,
glycosides and
anthraquinones). (2) Study of
methanolic extracts of flowers,
leaves, stem and root barks of
CA showed a broad spectrum
of antibacterial activity, with
the flower extract the most
effective.
Antiseptic Soap: A Nigerian
study on Cassia alata-based
soap exhibited high
antimicrobial potency against Staph aureus, the organism most widely encountered and undesirable of
the normal skin flora. At a reduction time of 5 mins, the herbal soap made a 94.78% reduction of the
microbial load, findings of economic, industrial and medical significance. (4)
Antiinflammatory: (1) Leaf extract of S. alata showed antiinflammatory activity through inhibition of
histamine secretion. (2) Antiinflammatory activity of heat-treated CA leaf extract and kaempferol 3-O-
gentiobioside (K3G), an abundant flavonoid glycoside isolated from CA were compared with the activities
of sun-dried CA leaf extract. Both extracts exhibited strong inhibitory effects on Concanavalin A-induced
histamine release from rat peritoneal exudate.
Antibacterial: Study showed the water extract of leaves to have more portent antibacterial activity than
the ethanol extract against S. aureus.
Purgative Effect: Study showed Cassia alata fresh leaves showed significant purgative efficacy on
volume and frequency compared to placebo. (8)
Hematologic & Toxicity Effects: Study of aqueous leaf extract in albino showed significant dose-
dependent decreases in hemoglobin levels and erythrocyte counts with emaciation, loss of appetite and
weight loss as signs of toxicity.
Phytochemistry & Antibacterial Activity of Senna alata Flower: Study of crude plant extracts
yielded steroids, anthraquinone glycosides, volatile oils and tannins with good inhibitory activity against S
aureus, S faecalis, B subtilis among others. (10)
Antimicrobial: Study of crude ethanol and water extract of leaves and barks from CA showed
concentration-dependent activity against C albicans. The water extract showed antibacterial activity
against S aureus.
Studies: Hexane (H), chloroform (C), ethylacetate (EA) extracts of CA leaves showed analgesic (H),
antiinflammatory (H/EA), antimutagenic (C), antimicrobial (H/EA), hypoglycemic activities (EA). All
extracts effected a decrease in motor activity, enophthalmos, hyperemia, micturition and diarrhea. (14)
Constipation Treatment: Leaves have been claimed effective as a laxative, presumed to be due to
anthraquinones. In a study testing the efficacy of CA leaves for treatment of constipation compared to
placebo, the differences were statistically highly significant. Minimal side effects nausea, dyspepsia,
abdominal pain and diarrhea were noted in 16-25 percent of patients. (15)
Hepatoprotective / Paracetamol / Leaves: An alcoholic extract study of dried leaves of Cassia alata
on paracetamol-induced hepatic injury in albino rats showed hepatoprotective activity that is attributed to
the flavonoids present in the leaves. (18)
Hepatoprotective / Carbon Tetrachloride: Study of crude extracts of petals of the plant showed
hepatoprotective activity in rats with CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. The effect was attributed to
anthocyanin present in the extract. (25)
Weight-Lowering Effect / Hypolipidemic: Study showed C. fistula and S. alata significant and
effectively reduced the body weight and weight of parametrial fat in mice due to their tannin contents.
Both plants present as potential sources of anti-obesity and hypolipidemic compounds. (20)
Pityriasis: A 10-year human study indicates the leaf extract of Cassia alata can be reliably used as a
herbal medicine to treat Pityriasis versicolor. The leaf extract has no side-effects. (21)
In-vitro Antifungal Activity: Study of crude stem bark extract on clinical test dermatophytes showed
marked antifungal effects on M. canslaslomyces, T verrucosum, T mentagrophytes and E. floccosum.
The extract was fungicidal for all tested dermatophytes.
Antifungal Activity / Leaves: Study evaluated a crude leaf extract on clinical test Dermatophytes.
Results showed the leaf exudates and ethanol extract of leaf exhibited marked antifungal effects on
Microsporum canis, Trichophyton jirrucosum, Tricophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton
jllorcosum. Phytochemical analysis yielded alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthracionones and
carbohydrates. (28)


Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Commercially available as lotion and ointment, in 5- and 10-gm containers for ringworm, pityriasis
versicolor, athlete's foot.