Cassia Auriculata
OTHER NAME(S): Avaram, Avaram Senna, Avari Panchaga Choornam, Kalpa Herbal Tea, Ranawara, Tanner's Cassia, Cassia auriculata, Senna auriculata
Overview
Cassia auriculata is an evergreen shrub that grows in many parts of India and in other parts of Asia. The flower, buds, leaves, stem, root, and unripe fruit are used for treatment, especially in Ayurvedic medicine.
People use Cassia auriculata for diabetes, pink eye, joint and muscle pain (rheumatism), constipation, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any use.
Cassia auriculata might increase the body's production of insulin.
Cassia auriculata might increase the body's production of insulin.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Diabetes.
- Joint and muscle pain (rheumatism).
- Pink eye.
- Constipation.
- Liver disease.
- Urinary tract diseases.
- Skin health.
- Male infertility.
- As an aphrodisiac.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of cassia auriculata for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Cassia auriculata is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied into the eye: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Cassia auriculata is safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Cassia auriculata is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied into the eye: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Cassia auriculata is safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Cassia auriculata is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Surgery: Cassia auriculata might affect blood sugar levels. There is some concern that it might make blood sugar control difficult during and after surgery. Stop taking Cassia auriculata at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol) interacts with Cassia AuriculataCassia auriculata might increase how much carbamazepine (Tegretol) is in the body. Taking Cassia auriculata with carbamazepine (Tegretol) might increase the effects and side effects of carbamazepine (Tegretol).
- Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with Cassia AuriculataCassia auriculata might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking Cassia auriculata along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed. Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of Cassia auriculata depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Cassia auriculata. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Latha M, Pari L. Antihyperglycaemic effect of Cassia auriculata in experimental diabetes and its effects on key metabolic enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2003;30:38-43.
- Pari L, Latha M. Effect of Cassia auriculata flowers on blood sugar levels, serum and tissue lipids in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Singapore Med J 2002;43:617-21.
- Sabu MC, Subburaju T. Effect of Cassia auriculata Linn. on serum glucose level, glucose utilization by isolated rat hemidiaphragm. J Ethnopharmacol 2002;80:203-6.
- Abesundara KJ, Matsui T, Matsumoto K. alpha-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of some Sri Lanka plant extracts, one of which, Cassia auriculata, exerts a strong antihyperglycemic effect in rats comparable to the therapeutic drug acarbose. J Agric Food Chem 2004;52:2541-5.
- Pari L, Ramakrishnan R, Venkateswaran S. Antihyperglycaemic effect of Diamed, a herbal formulation, in experimental diabetes in rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 2001;53:1139-43.
- Latha M, Pari L. Preventive effects of Cassia auriculata L. flowers on brain lipid peroxidation in rats treated with streptozotocin. Mol Cell Biochem 2003;243:23-8.
- Kumar Rajagopal S, Manickam P, Periyasamy V, Namasivayam N. Activity of Cassia auriculata leaf extract in rats with alcoholic liver injury. J Nutr Biochem 2003;14:452-8.
- Thabrew I, Munasinghe J, Chackrewarthi S, Senarath S. The effects of Cassia auriculata and Cardiospermum halicacabum teas on the steady state blood level and toxicity of carbamazepine. J Ethnopharmacol 2004;90:145-50.
- Nambirajan G, Karunanidhi K, Ganesan A, et al. Evaluation of antidiabetic activity of bud and flower of Avaram Senna (Cassia auriculata L.) In high fat diet and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Biomed Pharmacother. 2018;108:1495-1506.
- Haripriya VM, Dhamotharan K, Shukla SK, Suvekbala V, Ragupathy L, Kumaran A. Aphrodisiac properties of hydro-alcoholic extract of Cassia auriculata flower in male rats. Andrologia. 2019;51(2):e13180.