Proximate and Elemental Analysis of Three Medicinal Plants: Cuscuta reflexa, Cassia tora and Cassia fistula

Aim: The current study explores the proximate and elemental contents of three different medicinal plants, namely Cuscuta reflexa (whole plant), Cassia tora (stem) and Cassia fistula (seed pot) that have been grown in Bangladesh. Methodology: Macro (Na, K, Ca, Mg), micro (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cr) and heavy metal (Pb, Cd, As) elements, present in C. reflexa (Whole plant), C. tora (stem), and C. fistula (seed pod) were analyzed quantitatively by flame photometer and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Results: The minerals of the plants were found in substantial amounts (Na: 13763.75-16419.42 ppm, K: 6053.49-25864.92 ppm, Ca: 18912.16-2298.77 ppm, Mg: 1570.25-4602.23 ppm, Fe: 58.99-222.43 ppm, Cu: 3.16-11.61 ppm, Mn: 15.89-54.53 pm, Zn: 0.0367-50.2665 ppm, Ni: 0.9878-4.7186 ppm, Cr: 0.3279-0.8281 ppm, Pb: 0.3590-1.5030 ppm, Cd: 0.0016-0.0068 ppm and As: 0.0148-0.0675 ppm). Conclusion: It is evident that the investigated medicinal plants are enriched in some macro and micro nutrient, such as Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe etc which are important for biological metabolism and human health. On the other hand the heavy metals are present in trace amount which indicate the plants are safe for medicinal uses.

In vitro and In vivo Effects of the Leaf Extracts of Cassia tora and Cassia sophera in Reducing the Cytotoxicity and Angiogenesis.

Aim: Consumption of C. tora and C. sophera of family caesalpinaceae as leafy vegetables by local folklore has initiated this study to investigate the cytotoxic effect and antiangiogenic effect of their leaf extracts on human cancer cell lines and chick embryo respectively. Study Design: For in vitro studies colon and hepatocarcinoma cell lines were used. For in vivo studies chicken egg chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay is used. Methodology: Methanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts of leaves were tested for antiproliferative activity using MTT assay, on HCT15 and Hep G2 cell lines. In vivo CAM model was used to study anti-angiogenesis activity of extracts using filter paper discs. Results: All extracts of both plants were toxic to tested cell lines with increasing concentrations and time. Ethyl extract of Cassia tora was found to be most toxic on Hep G2 cell line, though ethyl extract and methanol extracts of both plants were found to give strong antiproliferative activity. Hep G2 was found to be most sensitive to all extracts than HCT15 as inhibited by low IC50 values. Ethyl acetate extracts of both plants exhibited greater anti-angiogenesis activity than other extracts.