Effects of drought stress on physiological and biochemical and chemical components of Cinnamomum cassia seedlings / 中国中药杂志

Six month old Cinnamomum cassia seedlings were used to simulate drought stress with polyethylene glycol(PEG 6000). The physiological indicators(osmotic substances, antioxidant enzymes, etc.) and chemical components of seedlings under different drought levels and the correlation between the two were studied. The results showed that the chlorophyll content and relative water content decreased gradually with the increase of PGE 6000(0, 5%, 10%, 15%) concentration and time(3, 5, 7 d), while the soluble protein content, soluble sugar content and catalase(CAT) activity increased, but the rising rate slowed down with the time. The activities of peroxidase(POD), superoxide dismutase(SOD), malondialdehyde(MDA) and proline content increased at first and then decreased. The content of coumarin, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid and dimethoxycinnamaldehyde decreased, while the content of cinnamyl alcohol continued to increase.Under drought stress, the fluorescence signals of reactive oxygen species and no contents in roots of C. cassia seedlings were significantly stronger than those of the control.Further correlation analysis showed that coumarin content, di-methoxycinnamaldehyde content and osmoregulation substance content were significantly negatively correlated(P<0.05), cinnamic acid content was significantly negatively correlated with POD and SOD activities(P<0.01).It was found that C. cassia seedlings showed a certain degree of drought tolerance under short-term or mild drought stress, but if the drought exceeded a certain degree, the physiological metabolism of the seedlings would be unbalanced.

Antibacterial activity of Cinnamomum cassia L. essential oil in a carbapenem- and polymyxin-resistant Klebsiella aerogenes strain

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Essential oils can serve as novel sources of antibiotics for multidrug-resistant bacteria. METHODS: The multidrug-resistance profile of a Klebsiella aerogenes strain was assessed by PCR and sequencing. The antibacterial activity of Cinnamomum cassia essential oil (CCeo) against K. aerogenes was assessed by broth microdilution and time-kill methods. RESULTS: K. aerogenes showed high antibiotic resistance. The genes bla KPC-2, ampC, bla CTX-M-15, bla OXA-1, and bla TEM were present. CCeo exhibited an inhibitory effect with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 17.57 μg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: The antibacterial activity of CCeo makes it a potential candidate for treating carbapenem- and polymyxin-resistant K. aerogenes strains.

Advances in quality research of Cinnamomum cassia / 中国中药杂志

Cinnamomum cassis is one of the commonly used traditional Chinese medicines in China. Its genuine producing areas distribute in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. As an important edible herb and export variety of China, the quality control and internationalization of quality standards of C. cassis is extremely significant. In the recent years, with the development of the cinnamon industry, relevant academic research and the upgrade of the international standards, it is necessary to summarize the quality-related progress of C. cassis. In the present review, the germplasm resources, specific quality marker(Q-marker) and quality standards of C. cassis were summarized on the basis of published research during the last 10 years.

Spectrum-effect relationship between HPLC fingerprint and free radicals scavenging in Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Decoction / 中国中药杂志

To establish the spectrum-effect relationship between HPLC fingerprint and free radicals activity scavenging in Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Decoction( GSZD),and provide a basis for the quality evaluation and modernization of classical prescriptions. Shimadsu GL-science C18 column( 4. 6 mm×250 mm,5 μm) was used with acetonitrile-0. 1% formic acid solution as the mobile phase for gradient elution. The detective wave length was 254 nm; the column temperature was set at 32 ℃; the injection volume was 20 μL; and the flow rate was 1. 0 m L·min-1.10 batches of primary standard samples of GSZD were detected,and their HPLC fingerprint was established by using the similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine( TCM). The activity of scavenging free radicals was studied by 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrophenylhydrazine( DPPH) method,and the spectrum-effect relationship was studied by Pearson bivariate correlation analysis. The common mode of GSZD fingerprints was established,and 26 common peaks were marked,with similarities ranging from 0. 929 to 0. 998. Eight of the chromatographic peaks were identified by using the control comparison method: gallic acid,mangiferin,paeoniflorin,glycyrrhizin,asparagus,5-O-methylvisamicin,cinnamic acid,and ammonium glycyrrhetate. Among them,the content changes of No. 14( paeoniside),20,12( mangiferin),13 and 23( cinnamic acid) common peaks were negatively correlated with free radical scavenging activity. The fingerprint showed high precision,repeatability and stability,and the common peaks were well separated,so it can be used for the quality evaluation of GSZD,and could provide reference for further studies on the material basis of GSZD.

Effects of Cinnamomum cassia extract on oxidative stress, immunreactivity of iNOS and impaired thoracic aortic reactivity induced by type II diabetes in rats

Type II diabetes is known to cause neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy. However, cardiovascular disorders associated with diabetes have been ignored. In traditional medicine, cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) bark has been used for its abilities to relieve fever, inflammation and chronic bronchitis. In the present study, the effect of Cinnamomum cassia extract (CN) on the thoracic aorta in an experimental type II diabetes model was investigated. In rats administered with nicotinamide + streptozotocin, significant endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress were characterised by increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and decreased insulin/proinsulin levels. This impairment was prevented by administering 1000 mg/kg metformin or 500-1000-1500 mg/kg CN. CN administration attenuated the inflammatory response by decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric oxide (NO) and increasing Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH). In addition, CN administration was shown to cause down-regulating effects on iNOS in thoracic aorta. These findings reveal that CN could prevent chronic complications of experimentally induced type II diabetes by attenuating inflammation, oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, and normalised contraction and relaxion responses in the thoracic aorta.

Effect of cassia cinnamon intake on improvement of the glycemic response: An updated meta-analysis: Focus on preparation of dehydrated powder and water extract / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum. cassia and C. aromaticum) on the glycemic response with a focus on the preparation of dehydrated powder and water extract. METHODS: We searched Pubmed, Cochrane, EMBASE, Science Direct, and the Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS) through May 2017. In the meta-analysis for the preparation of powder, eight trials reporting fasting blood glucose (FBG), four trials reporting HbA1c, and three trials reporting the postprandial glycemic response were included. For the water extract, six trials reporting FBG and four trials reporting HbA1c were eligible for this study. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled effect size. RESULTS: Cassia cinnamon powder intake significantly lowered FBG by −1.55 mmol/L (95% CI, −2.45, −0.64; p = 0.001) and the AUC of postprandial blood glucose level by −51.8 mmol/L·min (95% CI, −85.5, −18.1; p = 0.003). There was a significant difference in FBG between water extract of cinnamon and placebo of −0.76 mmol/L (95% CI, −1.09, −0.43; p = 0.000). However, blood HbA1c level was not significantly altered by any preparation of cinnamon. No statistical heterogeneity was observed for any analysis except in the case of FBG for cinnamon powder. Results of funnel plots and Egger's regression suggest a low likelihood of publication bias in all biomarkers (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to this meta-analysis, there was possible evidence to support a relationship between cassia cinnamon intake and fasting glucose in both preparation of powder and water extract. Furthermore, new evidence of the health benefits on postprandial glucose regulation of cinnamon powder was obtained.

Effect of a mixture of Galla rhois and Cinnamomum cassia extracts on susceptibility to the colonization of Campylobacter jejuni in broiler chickens

The present study evaluated the effects of a mixture of Galla rhois and Cinnamomum cassia extracts (GCE) (1 : 1, w/w) on susceptibility to the colonization of Campylobacter (C.) jejuni in broilers. Eighty two-week-old broilers (n = 20 per group) were used to estimate the efficacy of GCE against C. jejuni infection via drinking water. Antibacterial activity testing revealed that the minimum bactericidal concentration of GCE against C. jejuni was 2.5 mg/mL. Broilers challenged with C. jejuni were administered 0.0 (Non-GCE), 2.5 (GCE-2.5), 5.0 (GCE-5.0) and 10.0 g/L (GCE-10) GCE for 7 days, and the cecal contents were collected from five broilers per group on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th day post-treatment. On day 3 post-administration, the number of C. jejuni in GCE-5.0 (p < 0.05) and GCE-10 (p < 0.01) was significantly decreased relative to Non-GCE, while on day 7 those in all GCE-treated groups were significantly decreased compared to the Non-GCE group (p < 0.001). Hematological and blood biochemical analysis revealed no significant differences in parameters between the Non-GCE and GCE-treated groups. Based on the results of the present study, GCE was identified as a safe and alternative candidate to suppress C. jejuni colonization in broilers.

Research progress of trans-cinnamaldehyde pharmacological effects / 中国中药杂志

Trans-cinnamaldehyde, the main component of volatile oil from cassia twig or Cinnamomum cassia, which is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Trans-cinnamaldehyde is a kind olefine aldehyde of organic compounds and has many pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, and neuroprotection etc. The compound has preventive and therapeutic effects on the nervous system, cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes and other diseases. Trans-cinnamaldehyde, as a preventive care of nature medicine, has great clinical and market potential. This paper gives a review about the pharmacological effects and mechanism of trans-cinnamaldehyde researched in the latest five years. We hope to provide some basic information for further research on trans-cinnamaldehyde.

Chemical constituents from Cinnamomum cassia / 中国中药杂志

Various column chromatography, such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS, and semi-preparative HPLC was used to isolate and purify the chemical constituents from Cinnamomum cassia. The structures were determined on the basis of NMR and MS spectral data analysis, together with the comparison with literature data. Fifteen compounds were isolated from the 85% aqueous ethanol extract of C. cassia, and their structures were identified as (2R, 3R)-5,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavan-3-ol( 1), (2R, 3R)-5,7-dimethoxy-3',4'-methylenedioxyflavan-3-ol (2), coumarin (3), cinnamic acid (4), (E)-2-hydroxy-phenylpropionic acid cinnamoyl ester (5), 3, 3', 4, 4'-tetrahydroxy biphenyl (6), methylstictic acid (7), epi-boscialin (8), (1R,2S,3S,4S)-2,3-epoxy-1, 4-dihydroxy-5-methyl-5-cyelohexene (9), 4,5-dihydroxy-3-methyl cyclohex-2-enone (10), cis-4-hydroxymellein (11), and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxyl-cinnamaldehyde (12). Compounds 5-11 were obtained from this genus plants for the first time.

A new comprehensive procedure for the quality control of Semen Cassiae and its application in evaluating commercially available material in China / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To establish a more comprehensive and suitable procedure for the quality control of Semen Cassiae which can be used to supplement the evaluation procedure adopted by the Pharmacopoeia of the Peoples Republic of China.@*METHODS@#A HPLC assay-based comprehensive quality evaluation procedure for Semen Cassiae using three bioactive compounds including anthraquinones and naphthopyrones, i.e., chrysophanol-1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), rubrofusarin-6-O-β-D-gentiobioside (2) and toralactone-9-O-β-D-gentiobioside (3) as the index components was established. The resultant data were further analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and data distribution methods using software SPSS 16.0.@*RESULTS@#Sixty-six batches of Semen Cassiae obtained from various regions of China were analyzed with the procedure. Based on the test results of these batches, the content limits of the three bioactive compounds in Semen Cassiae were proposed.@*CONCLUSION@#The procedure established herein is more comprehensive and appropriate for the quality evaluation of Semen Cassiae commercially available in China, and can be used as a useful supplement to the current official method in China for the quality evaluation of Semen Cassiae.

Efeito inibitório de óleos essenciais sobre microrganismos do canal radicular / Inhibitory effect of essential oils against organisms from root canal

Introdução: os óleos essenciais apresentam propriedades biológicas, as quais devem ser estudadas de modo a investigar novas possibilidades de constituição de soluções irrigadoras. Objetivo: avaliar o efeito inibitóriode óleos essenciais extraídos de plantas sobre a atividade de microrganismos envolvidos na infecção do canal radicular. Material e método: foram selecionados os óleos essenciais de Melaleuca alternifolia (melaleuca), Cymbopogon winterianus (citronela), Thymus vulgaris (tomilho), Ocimum basilicum (manjericão), Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa) e Cinnamomum cassia (canela-da-china). A atividade antimicrobiana sobre Candida albicans (ATCC 289065) e Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) foi avaliada por meio da triagem da atividade antimicrobiana e da determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM). As soluções de Digluconato de Clorexidina (0,12%) e Hipoclorito de Sódio (1%) serviram de controle. Resultado: os halos de inibição docrescimento para E. faecalis variaram entre 8,00 e 26,00 mm, enquanto que a variação para C. albicans foi entre 26,67 e > 35,00 mm. Os óleos essenciais de T. vulgaris, C. martinii e C. cassia apresentaram CIM na concentração 0,56 mg.mL­1 frente às cepas testadas. Menor atividade foi demonstrada por O. basilicum, que apresentou CIM nas concentrações 72,00 e 1,12 mg.mL­1 contra E. faecalis e C. albicans, respectivamente. Conclusão: os produtos testados apresentaram efeito inibitório satisfatório sobre E. faecalis e C. albicans, destacando-se os óleos essenciais de T. vulgaris, C. martinii e C. cassia.

Introduction: essential oils have biological properties that should be studied in order to investigate new possibilities for formulating irrigating solutions. Objective: the aim was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of essential oils extracted from plants on the activity of organisms involved in root canal infection. Material and method: the essential oils from Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree), Cymbopogon winterianus (citronella), Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Ocimum basilicum (basil), Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa) and Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) were selected.The antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans (ATCC 289065) and Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) was evaluated by screening for antimicrobial activity and determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The Chlorhexidine Digluconate (0.12%) and 1% Sodium Hypochlorite solutions served as control. Result: the zones of growth inhibition for E. faecalis varied between 8.00 and 26.00 mm, while the zones of inhibition for C. albicans ranged between 26.67 and > 35.00 mm. The essential oils from T. vulgaris, C. martinii and C. cassia showedMIC at concentration of 0.56 mg.mL­1 against the tested strains. Minor activity was demonstrated by the essential oil from O. basilicum, which presented MIC at concentrations of 72.00 and 1.12 mg.mL­1, against E. faecalis and C. albicans, respectively. Conclusion: the tested products presented satisfactory inhibitory effect against E. faecalisand C. albicans, with highlight to the essential oils from T. vulgaris, C. martinii and C. cassia.

Determination of aurantio-obtusin and chrysophanol in cassiae semen by HPLC / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To improve the determination method of Cassiae Semen in China Pharmacopeia edition 2005. MMETHOD: Aurantio-obtusin and chrysophanol were separated on an Inertsil ODS-3 column with acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid solutiona as mobile phase in gradient elution.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The linear ranges of aurantio-obtusin and chrysophanol were 2.3-230, 2.87-286 mg x L(-1), respectively. The average recover were 100.3% (RSD 3.1%), and 99.5% (RSD 2.5%) respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This method is specific, accurate and reproducible, and can be used for the assay of Cassiae Semen in the new edition of Chinese pharmacopoeia.</p>

In vitro and in vivo Antibacterial Activities of Cinnamomum cassia Extracts Against Helicobacter pylori / 한국실험동물학회지

Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is strongly associated with duodenal and gastric ulcers. Substantial epidemiological data has revealed that high rates of H. pylori infection might be related to high rates of gastric cancer and gastric adenocarcinoma. In this study, a medicinal herbal plant, Cinnamomum cassia, was examined and screened for anti-H. pylori activity. Seventy percent ethanol was used for herbal extraction. For anti-H. pylori activity screening, inhibitory zone tests as an in vitro assay and in vivo study using a Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) model were performed. Also, the safety of herbal compounds was evaluated by animal study. As a result of inhibitory zone test, Cinnamomum cassia extract demonstrated strong anti-H. pylori activities. Also, as results of in vivo animal studies, Cinnamomum cassia demonstrated strong therapeutic effects against H. pylori infection according to the criteria of histological examination and rapid urease test. As results of the safety study, after 28 days treatment of the Cinnamomum cassia extract, the animals were not detected any grossly and histological changes. These results demonstrate that it can be successfully cured against H. pylori infection and protected from H. pylori-induced pathology with Cinnamomum cassia. It could be a promising native herb treatment for patients with gastric complaints including gastric ulcer caused by H. pylori.

Estudios preliminares de los aspectos de especies de Cassia y evaluación de la actividad antiparasitaria / Preliminary studied of extras from Cassia species and their antiparitic activity

Las enfermedades parasitarias como las leishmaniasis, la malaria y el mal de chagas son endémicas en Bolivia y se vuelve una necesidad encontrar productos nuevos con actividad antiparasitaria, menos tóxicos y de bajo costo en Bolivia.

Chromatographic fingerprint peak matching of Semen Cassiae by asymptotic window orthoganality projection analytical method / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the principle and basis about the chromatographic fingerprint peak matching of Semen Cassiae by the asymptotic window orthogonal projection analytical method.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The samples of Semen Cassiae were hydrolyzed in the 1.5 mol x L(-1) hydrochloride acid and then reflux extracted with chloroform. The chromatographic condition was that the HPLC was run on Agilent 1100 column, Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). The protected column was Scienhome C18 column (3.0 mm x 20 mm, 5 microm) with acetonitrile-water (0.1% phosphoric acid) as mobile phase in gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength and reference wavelength were 278 nm and 550 nm, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The characteristic fingerprint collection of illustrative plates of Semen Cassiae were obtained with different HPLC instruments and chromatographic columns. And the asymptotic window orthogonal projection analytical method was used to decide the chromatographic fingerprint peak matching of Semen Cassiae, promptly and prapidly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The asymptotic window orthogonal projection analytical method can progress the matching of different fingerprint collection of illustrative plates peak matching well and truly.</p>

AMWFA method applied to research on changes of essential components and extractive ratioes of herbal pair Cinnamomum cassia and Poria cocos / 中国中药杂志

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, chemometric resolution method-Alternative movingwindow factor analysis that were proposed recently and the Kovats retention index were used to analyze the essential components of herbal pair Cinnamomum cassia Presl and Poria cocos (CCP-PC) and compare them with those of single herbal Cinnamomum cassia Presl (CCP). 46 and 42 essential components in essential oil of CCP and CCP-PC have been identified individually. Results shows that the number of essential components of CCP and CCP-PC were almost the same, but extractive ratioes of them have changed significantly, some of them were increased obviously, most of them were declined notably instead and even several ingredients of CCP-PC were disappeared due to CCP PC's interaction probably. The main pharmacodynamic ingredients of CCP-PC, 3-phenyl-2-propenal and Cinnamaldehyde were obviously higher contents than that of single CCP. It suggested that there exist certain interactions of the chemical ingredients in compound medicine rather than their sum effect of single medicines. There is a litter difference in quality and quantity between single medicines and pair medicines, so the application of pair medicines can expand single medicine's adaptive disease and has a good clinical referenced valuation.

The effect of cinnamon cassia powder in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder and the incidence of cardiovascular is increased two- to fourfold in its complications. Cinnamon is expected to have some degree of anti-diabetic efficacy without troublesome side effects. The objective of the present study was to investigate the anti-diabetic effect of cinnamon cassia powder in type 2 diabetic patients MATERIAL AND METHOD: Sixty type 2 diabetic patients were randomized either 1.5 g/d of cinnamon cassia powder or placebo. Both groups were in combination with their current treatment (metformin or sulfonylurea) according to single blind randomized, placebo-control trial in a 12-week period. Efficacy was evaluated by HbA1c fasting plasma glucose, Lipid profile, BUN, creatinine, liver function test and adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: After a 12-week period, HbA1c was decreased similarly in both groups from 8.14% to 7.76% in the cinnamon group and from 8.06% to 7.87% in the placebo group. This was not found statistically significantly different. However the proportion of patients achieving HbA1c < or = 7% was also greater in patients receiving cinnamon compared with patients receiving placebo, nevertheless, it was not found statistically significantly different (35% vs 15%, x2 = 3.14, p > 0.05). No significant intergroup differences were observed in lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose except in SGOT 27.1 (8.75) to 22.1 (5) in cinnamon group and 24.08 (8.5) to 23.63 (8.88) in the placebo group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The cinnamon cassia powder 1.5 g/d did not have any significant difference in reducing fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and serum lipid profile in type 2 diabetes patients who had mean fasting plasma glucose 154.40 +/- 24.72 mg/dl.

Study on relative bioavailability of ferulic acid of combination Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Cortex Cinnamomi in mice / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the phamacokinetics and relative bioavailability of combination Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Cortex Cinnamomi.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The content of ferulic acid in plasma was determined directly by HPLC after oral administration of Cortex Cinnamomi in combination individually with Radix Angelicae Sinensis. The plasma concentration-time curve were plotted. The main pharmacokinetic parameters and relative bioavailability were obtained.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The plasma concentration-time curve of fenalic aclid conformed to one-compartment model. The relative bioavailability of Cortex Cinnamomi combined with Radix Angelicae Sinensis were 226.75%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>By the statistical analysis, Cortex Cinnamomi combined with Radix Angelicae Sinensis can increase the relative bioavailability of ferulic acid.</p>

Effect of guizhi decoction on PKA and PKC activities of hypothalamus in fever rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes of the activity of both protein kinase A and C and the mechanisms of antipyretic action of Guizhi decoction.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The fever responses were observed after combination injection of H-89 (a selective inhibitor of PKA) and calphostin C (a selective inhibitor of PKC), and oral pretreatment of Guizhi decoction in fever rats induced by an intra-cerebroventricular (icv) injection of an EP3 agonist, and both PKA and PKC activity in hypothalamus were measured in rats pretreated with Guizhi decoction and vehicle using isotopic tracing assay.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The rise in rat body temperature was inhibited by H-89, Calphostin C, and Guizhi decoction, moreover, pretreatment with Guizhi decoction reduced PKA activity obviously. PKC activity in model rats exhibited a tendency to drop compared with that of control group, Oral administration of Guizhi decoction in large dose inhibited the response significantly, while the low dose of Guzhi decoction has no effect on PKC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both PKA and PKC may participate in the mechanism of fever induction by EP3 agonist. The decrease of PKA and PKC may contribute to the antipyretic action of Guizhi decoction, some isoenzyme of PKC may play a role in the fever production.</p>

Actividad antianémica de la Cassia grandis L / The antianemic activity of Cassia grandis L

La población de la zona oriental de Cuba refiere los efectos beneficiosos del uso tradicional de la Cassia grandis L. en la anemia, con la utilización del polvo seco obtenido del fruto como un suplemento nutricional. El objetivo fue evaluar dicho efecto en un modelo experimental de anemia ferropénica en ratas, inducido por sucesivas extracciones de sangre y administración de una dieta carente de hierro. Todos los animales fueron sometidos durante 15 días a una dieta semisintética deficiente en hierro y a extracciones de sangre 3 veces por semana hasta lograr concentraciones de hemoglobina en sangre menores de 9 g/dL. Se formaron 3 grupos y se mantuvo la misma dieta: grupo I sin suplementar, grupo II suplementado con 15 mg de hierro/kg de dieta y grupo III la misma cantidad de hierro más 750 mg/kg de peso corporal de polvo seco de Cassia grandis L. durante otros 15 días. Al finalizar se determinaron las concentraciones de hierro, hemoglobina y hematócrito en sangre. Las concentraciones medias de hemoglobina al cabo de los 15 días de tratamiento fueron significativamente diferentes en los 3 grupos experimentales, con resultados mayores en el grupo suplementado con hierro y Cassia grandis L.; también en este grupo se observó un incremento significativo de los valores medios de hierro en plasma en relación con los valores obtenidos en los animales no suplementados y en los animales que recibieron solamente hierro en la dieta. El porcentaje de hematócrito no mostró diferencia significativa entre tratamiento. Los resultados corroboran el uso popular y tradicional de la Cassia grandis L. en los estados anémicos, al mejorar la utilización del hiero y la producción de hemoglobina