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New flowering ornamental trees that can tolerate hot and arid climate
According to the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) flowering ornamental trees such Cassia Fistula and Cassia Nodosa (known as “golden shower tree”) may improve the landscape of Kuwait. These trees produce colourful flowers for a long duration and are tolerant to hot arid climates. [1]
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The institute studied the germination of seeds and plant growth requirements. Manual scarification was found to be the most effective way of breaking seed dormancy of Cassia sp. Cassia Nodosa seeds recorded a germination percentage of 81.6, and seed germination started thirteen days after sowing and continued up to 29 days. For Cassia Fistula, seed germination started nine days after sowing and continued up to 29 days, and the germination percentage was 85.8, report the authors. The best growth of Cassia Nodosa and Cassia Fistula was attained with a soil mixture of sand/ peat-moss/ humus in 1:1:1 ratio, and a fertilizer concentration of N: P: K at 1g/l.
Picture: Wikipedia |
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The authors suggest that Cassia species are suitable for landscape beautification in hot and arid climate such as Kuwait. Seed Scarification: A hard seed coat that is impervious to water and gases will avoid germination. Breaking, scratching, or mechanically altering the seed coat to make it permeable to water and gases is known as scarification. The hard coat can be modified by sulphuric acid. Vinegar is safer, but less effective treatment. Hot water is also used for some seeds. Mechanical scarification uses a metal file, sandpaper, nicked with a knife, or cracked gently with a hammer to weaken the seed coat.
Picture: Wikipedia |
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The bark is rich in tannins, being used for tanning hides. The wood is hard and is used to produce agricultural tools. The pulp of the fruits contain 60 to 70 per cent of sugar, some tannins and colouring agents. The fruits are dried and sold as Manna. The edible part has a fine aroma and is sweet. The pulp is said to be mild laxative. [2]
Seeds are told to be poisonous, however, Jothy et al. 2011 found that oral administration of Cassia fistula methanolic seeds extract did not produce any significant toxic effect in mice, even at a dose of 5000 mg/kg, implying that Cassia fistula in nontoxic. [3]
Nutrients of the edible fruit tissue of Indian laburnum fruit (Cassia fistula L.) [4]
Barthakur, Arnold and Alli found the edible fruit tissue of Indian laburnum fruit (Cassia fistula L.) very rich in potassium, but pulp and seeds were low in sodium. Calcium was 827 mg/100g dry weight. This is the highest calcium content of any fruits and 100 g fulfils the RDA requirement of 800g/day for adults. The fruit is a good source of iron and manganese. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and lysine constituted 15.3, 13.0, and 7.8% of the total amino acids respectively in the pulp, and 16.6, 19.5, and 6.6% in seeds. According to the authors the Indian laburnum fruit provides 18 kJ/g and may become a source of important nutrients and energy for humans.
Antibacterial and antifungal potentials of leaves of Cassia fistula Linn [5]
According to Bhalodia and Sukla 2011 the hydroalcohol extracts of leaves of Cassia fistula Linn presented a strong antimicrobial and antifungal activity. Inhibition of the bacterial growth was compared with several antibiotics.
The authors stress that the microbial activity of the Cassia fistula, an ethnomedicinal plant, was due to the presence of various secondary metabolites. The authors suggest that these plants my help in the search for natural bioactive pharmaceutical products.
Panda, Padhi and Mohanty 2011 report that that the alcohol extract of the leaf of Cassia fistula have broad-spectrum activity and suggest its possible use in treatment of infectious diseases. [6]
Antiyeast active compund in seeds of Cassia fistula [7]
Phytochemical screening of seeds of Cassia fistula revealed the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and terpenoids. One compound was identified is roseanone with anti-Candida albicans activity. The study was performed by Jothy et al 2011.
[1] Cassia trees to beautify Kuwait's landscape Kuwait Times 29 Dec 2011.
http://kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTcxNzk5NDYyNQ==
[2] Cassia fistula. Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassia_fistula
[3] Jothy SL, Zakaria Z, Chen Y, Lau YL, Latha LY, Sasidharan S: Acute oral toxicity of methanolic seed extract of Cassia fistula in mice. Molecules. 2011 Jun 23;16(6):5268-82.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21701437
[4] Barthakur NN, Arnold NP, Alli I: The Indian laburnum (Cassia fistula L.) fruit: an analysis of its chemical constituents. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 1995 Jan;47(1):55-6
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7784398
[5] Bhalodia NR, Shukla VJ: Antibacterial and antifungal activities from leaf extracts of Cassia fistula l.: An ethnomedicinal plant. J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2011 Apr;2(2):104-9
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217694/?tool=pubmed
[6] Panda SK, Padhi LP, Mohanty G: Antibacterial activities and phytochemical analysis of Cassia fistula (Linn.) leaf. J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2011 Jan;2(1):62-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217677/?tool=pubmed
[7] Jothy SL, Zakaria Z, Chen Y, Lau YL, Latha LY, Shin LN, Sasidharan S: Bioassay-directed isolation of active compounds with antiyeast activity from a Cassia fistula seed extract. Molecules. 2011 Sep 5;16(9):7583-92.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21894090
