Talk:Edagaja
| Section/Chapter | Herb database/Edagaja |
|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Cassia tora L. |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Availability | Available |
| Contributors | Team Dravyaguna |
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre |
| DOI | Awaited |
Cassia tora L. (commonly known as Edagaja, Chakramarda, or the ring-worm plant) is an annual herbaceous plant widely distributed throughout tropical regions. In Ayurveda it is used for skin disorders (Kushtha), ringworm (Dadru), itching and constipation.
English name
Ring-worm plant
Therapeutic uses
Kaphavata janya vikara, kustha (skin disease), vrana (wound), dadru (tinea), pakshaghata (paralysis), vibandha (constipation), gulma (abdominal lump), krumi (worm), pama (scabies), kandu (itching), swasa (breathlessness), kasa (cough)[1]
Synonyms in Charak Samhita
Edagaja, Chakramarda
Synonyms in bhavprakasa nighantu
Prapunnata, dadrudhna, meshalochana, punnata[2]
Ayurvedic pharmacological properties
| Sr.no. | Pharmacological criteria | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taste (rasa) | Pungent (katu) |
| 2 | Potency (veerya) | Hot (ushna) |
| 3 | Post digestion effect (vipaka) | Pungent (katu) |
| 4 | Qualities (guna) | Light (laghu), Rough (ruksha) |
| 5 | Actions (karma) | Reduces kapha and vata |
Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions
| Sr.no. | Reference in Charak Samhita | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 3/3 | Siddhatama churna pradeha (external application) |
Dose
- 1-3 gm of powder[1]
Important formulation
As per A.P.I.[1]
- Nimbadi churna
- Kasisadi ghruta
- Maha vishagarbha taila
- Bruhata marichyadi taila
Current availability
Available
- India – throughout India in waste places and roadsides.
Current researches
Phytoconstituents
Only constituents supported by a checked reference are listed (one reference per class).
| Class | Reported constituents | Plant part | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthraquinones and related compounds | Chrysophanol (marker constituent), physcion, emodin, toralactone, rubrofusarin; seeds mainly anthraquinone glycosides; leaves rich in emodin, tricontan-1-ol and stigmasterol | Seeds, leaves | [3] |
Pharmacological Activities & Therapeutic Efficacy
All findings below come from animal or in vitro experiments; no human clinical trial was identified during reference checking. The classical uses not listed below (for example vibandha and kandu) have no checked modern reference here.
Antifungal Activity (Dadru)
An 80% ethanolic extract of the seeds was fractionated and analysed by HPLC; four anthraquinones (aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion) were identified. The extract and its subfractions were tested against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (a dermatophyte) by broth microdilution; the anthraquinone-rich subfractions inhibited the fungus about 4 to 8 times more strongly than the crude extract, but less potently than ketoconazole (MIC 125 versus 20 as printed in the abstract).[4]
Hepatoprotective Activity
A methanolic leaf extract (400 mg/kg, orally) protected rats against carbon-tetrachloride-induced liver injury, lowering serum SGOT, SGPT, bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase; the effect was comparable to a standard hepatoprotective agent.[5]
Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Activity
In a master's thesis (not a journal article), a methanolic leaf extract given intraperitoneally (100–200 mg/kg) reduced egg-albumin-induced paw oedema in rats, comparable to aspirin (150 mg/kg). At 200–400 mg/kg it reduced acetic-acid-induced writhing in mice comparably to aspirin, and at 50–100 mg/kg it increased tolerance of mechanical pain in a dose-dependent manner. This is thesis-level evidence and should be confirmed by peer-reviewed studies.[6]
Safety, Toxicity, and Dosage
- Toxicity: Limited toxicity data were found in the sources checked, so no safety margin is stated here.
- Precautions: Use under clinical guidance, particularly in pregnancy and lactation; human safety data were not found in the sources checked.
- Classical dose: 1–3 g of powder (see Dose above).
Summary of Therapeutic Profile
| Indication | Part and extract | Principal finding |
|---|---|---|
| Dermatophytosis (Dadru) | Seed, 80% ethanol extract and subfractions | Inhibited T. mentagrophytes in vitro; anthraquinone-rich fractions more active than crude extract |
| Chemical liver injury (rat) | Leaf, methanolic, 400 mg/kg orally | Lower SGOT, SGPT, bilirubin and ALP |
| Inflammation and pain (rat, mouse) | Leaf, methanolic, i.p. (thesis) | Reduced oedema and writhing; raised mechanical pain tolerance |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume 3 :69
- ↑ Pro. Krushnachandra Chunekar, Bhavaprakash Nighantu. Reprint Edition 2020, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, haritakyadi varga, verse no.-210
- ↑ Jain S, Patil UK. Phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Cassia tora Linn.: an overview. Indian J Nat Prod Resour. 2010;1(4):430–437.
- ↑ Charoenchai L, Chankana N. Identification of anthraquinones from Cassia tora L. seeds and antifungal activity. Interprof J Health Sci. 2018;16(1).
- ↑ Maity TK, Mandal SC, Mukherjee PK, Saha K, Das J, Saha BP, Pal M. Evaluation of hepatoprotective potential of Cassia tora leaf extract. Nat Prod Sci. 1997;3(2):122–126.
- ↑ Chidume FC. Immunogenic and some pharmacological activities of crude extracts of Cassia tora Linn (Family: Caesalpiniaceae). MSc thesis, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; 2000.