Cassia seed Extract

• Product Detail

Product name	Cassia seed Extract
Latin Name	Cassia tora Linn.
Active ingredients	Anthraquinone compounds etc.
synonyms	Cassiae seed,Chinese Senna, Sicklepod, gyeolmyeongja, Senna obtusifolia, fedegoso, chirauta chokad, jué míng zi
Appearance	Brown yellow fine powder
Part used	Seed
Specification	5:1 10:1 20:1
Dosage	1500-2000mg daily
Main benefits	Care of Eyes, anticancer, Liver Care, Hypolipidemic
Applied industries	Medicine, food additive, dietary supplement, sports nutrition

 

What is Cassia seed Extract?

Just as its name implies, it refers to the dried mature seeds of Cassia obtusifolia L. or Cassia tora L., which is a plant in the family Leguminosae. Other names also include cassia tora seed, Cao Jue Ming, seed of sickle senna, and Foetid Cassia Seeds. In China it is mainly produced in Anhui, Guangxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Guangdong and other places. The best collecting season is autumn when the fruits are ripe. And then it needs to dry in the sun, collect the seeds, and then remove the impurities. And it is usually used raw or fried.

Chemical constituents of Cassia seed Extract

Cassia obtusifolia seeds contain anthraquinone compounds, cassiaside, mucus, proteins, sitosterol, amino acids and fatty oil. And anthraquinone compounds mainly include emodin, physcion, chrysophanol, aloe-emodin, obtusifolin, obtusin, chryso-obtusin, aurantio-obtusin and their glycosides and rhein. Cassia tora has almost the same chemical constituents except for the obtusifolin and its glycosides. In addition, it also contains chrysophanol-1-bgentiobiside.

Benefits of taking Cassia seed Extract supplements:

Traditional Chinese Medicine

According to tcmwiki

A. All syndromes of eye diseases

Being bitter and cold, it can purge liver fire and improve vision by entering liver. Because it is not drasticly bitter and cold, and yet being sweet and moisture without concerns of damaging yin, it is a common herb for various eyes diseases, such as the eye diseases caused by liver fire, wind-heat, or liver deficiency. For blood-shot painful eyes, photophobia and lacrimation, nebula due to liver fire flaming up, it is combined with Che Qian Zi, Qing Xiang Zi for clearing liver and improve vision, such as Jue Ming San from Yi Zong Jin Jian. For eye diseases due to win-heat, it is combined with Ju Hua and Man Jing Zi to clear heat and dispel wind, such as Jue Ming Zi San from Sheng Hui Fang. For blurred vision, it is often combined with Gou Qi Zi, Tu Si Zi , Wu Wei Zi to tonify liver and kidney, such as Bu Gan Wan from Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng (Standards for Diagnosis and Treatment) so as to strengthen the action of improving vision.

B. Constipation due to dryness of large intestine

For its actions of laxation and relaxing the bowls, it is commonly combined with herbs of laxation such as Huo Ma Ren, Gua Lou Ren, for constipation caused by internal heat and dryness.

Furthermore, modern research showed that it has the action of lowering blood pressure and blood lipid. It is often indicated for hypertension and hyperlipidemia with some effects.

Modern Medicine

Semen Cassiae and Hypolipidemic

>Hypolipidemic effect of soluble fiber isolated from seeds of Cassia tora Linn. in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet.

(Source-Division of Food Function Research, Korea Food Research Institute, 46-1 Baekhyun-Dong, Bundang-Gu, Songnam-Si, Kyunggi-Do 463-746, Republic of Korea.)

Abstract

Soluble fibers isolated from the seeds of Cassia tora Linn. (SFC) have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their phenomenal rheological behavior. In this study were investigated the effects of SFC on lipid metabolism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed one of three experimental diets, a normal diet, a high-cholesterol diet, or a high-cholesterol diet with 5% SFC, for 5 weeks. The serum concentration of total cholesterol in rats fed SFC was 27% lower (p < 0.05) compared to that of the control group, but the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was increased in the SFC group. Liver total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in rats fed the SFC diet. In addition, fecal bile acid and lipid excretion was significantly increased by SFC consumption. These results indicate that SFC enhances fecal lipid excretion and may cause a reduction in serum and hepatic lipid concentrations in rats.

>Emerging approaches of traditional Chinese medicine formulas for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.

(Source-Division of Life Science & Health, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China.)

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas have been widely used in China since ancient times to treat certain diseases (e.g., phlegm, dampness and blood stasis). Recently, the effects of these medicines have been increasingly demonstrated to be helpful for hyperlipidemic patients.

AIM OF THE STUDY:

This manuscript aims to describe the scientific evidence for the efficacy of TCM and attempts to identify potential TCM formulas for treating hyperlipidemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

TCM formulas approved by the State Food and Drug Administration of China (SFDA) were sourced from the official SFDA website (http://www.sda.gov.cn/). Human and animal evidence for the hypolipidemic effects of herbs from TCM formulas were reviewed via the Internet (Elsevier, ACS, Wiley Online Library, SpringerLink, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Baidu, and Google) and libraries up to October 31, 2011.

RESULTS:

More than 50 TCM formulas have been used to treat hyperlipidemia. These herbs can primarily be grouped into three categories: (1) herbs promoting excretions, generally by reducing food retention, enhancing purgative effects, and promoting diuresis and choleretic effects, e.g., Fructus Crataegi (), Radix Polygoni Multiflori (), Semen Cassiae (), and Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (), Rhizoma alismatis (), and Herba Artemisiae Scopariae (); (2) herbs acting on the cardiovascular system, generally by improving blood circulation based on TCM theories, e.g., Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (), Radix Puerariae (), Rhizoma Chuanxiong (), Flos Carthami (), and Folium Nelumbinis (); and (3) herbs that have tonic effects, e.g., Fructus Lycii (), Radix Ginseng (), and Radix Astragali ().

CONCLUSIONS:

Three basic approaches, including excretory function enhancement, cardiovascular system improvement, and tonic effect reinforcement, are emerging among TCM formulas for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. These approaches may be useful in controlling blood lipid levels, preventing cardiovascular complications, and adjusting bodily functions in hyperlipidemic patients. However, solid evidence of the efficacy of these treatments is required.

Semen Cassiae and liver

>Experiment study of total anthraquinone in cassiae semen on lipid peroxidation and PPAR-gamma expression in liver tissues of rats with alcoholic fatty liver.

(Source-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica, Chongqing 400065, China. )

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the effect of total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen on lipid peroxidation and peroxisome proliferator activated receptors gamma (PPAR-gamma) expression in liver tissues of rats with alcoholic fatty liver.

METHOD:

Referring to literature, it was established animal models of fatty liver feeding with alcohol. Rats were randomized into 6 groups, except the normal group, the other 5 groups of rats had been administered alcohol two times a day for 3 months. Rats were killed at the end of this experiment. It were respectively measured that the contents of ALT, AST, AKP, TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, MDA, SOD, FFA in the serum and TG, TC, MDA, SOD, HL, LPL, FFA in the liver. The left leaf of liver was observed by histopathological staining, the immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR were used to observe the effects on the expressions of PPAR-gamma mRNA.

RESULT:

Compared with the model group, total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen could remarkably decrease the content of ALT, AST, TC, TG, MDA and increase the content of SOD in the serum of the experimental fatty liver induced by alcohol; remarkably decrease the content of TC, TG, FFA and increase the content of HL, LPL, SOD in the liver of the experimental fatty liver with induced by alcohol. Total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen group was the similar the model group, but remarkably lighten inflammatory cell intiltration and fibrosis increasing. The RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining results showed that: compared with the normal group,the model group could remarkably decrease the expression of PPAR-gamma mRNA in the liver (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen could remarkably increase the expression of PPAR-gamma mRNA in the liver of the experimental fatty liver (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION:

The results showed that total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen has good effects on the treatment of hepatic fat induced by alcohol diet in rats. the possible action mechanism of total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen possess obvious effect of regulating the disorder of lipid metabolism, ameliorating hepatic function, as well as anti-lipidperoxidation, increasing the expression of PPAR-gamma in hepatic cells of rats.

Semen Cassiae and eye

>The activity of lowering intraocular pressure of cassiae seed extract in a DBA/2J mouse glaucoma model.

(Source-Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Armed Force General Hospital , Kaohsiung, Taiwan.)

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the activity of lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) by Cassiae seed in the DBA/2J mouse glaucoma model.

METHODS:

Young male (mean age: 3 months) inherited glaucoma mice (BDA/2J) were enrolled in this study. To evaluate the potential of Cassiae seed in the treatment of glaucoma, all subjects were divided into 6 groups. There were 1 sham group, positive control identified as group 2 topical brimonidine and group 3 oral acetazolamide, and groups 4-6 Cassiae seed extract (CSE) groups. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in the anterior aqueous humor and the changes of IOP were investigated. Contents of total polyphenol glycosides in the CSE were measured using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Cosmosil 5C(18)-MS reverse-phase HPLC column (4.6×250-mm i.d., 5 μm) with methanol/0.1% H(3)PO(4) as the mobile phases in a gradient elution mode at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and an injection volume of 10 μL. The wavelength of UV detector was set at 254 nm.

RESULTS:

The LDH level in the anterior aqueous humor and IOP significantly decreased after treatment with CSE. The IOP-lowering effect of CSE was comparable to those of oral acetazolamide and brimonidine instillation. There were no abnormal findings in the external appearance, and body weight change after treatment with CSE for 5 weeks. Chrysophanol and physcion were measured by an HPLC method to obtain total polyphenol glycosides of the CSE, and were involved in the IOP-lowering function. ConclUSION: Cassiae seed may be safe and beneficial for treating glaucoma due to its significant IOP- and LDH-lowering activities.

Side effects and safety of Cassia seed Extract

Semen Cassia seed has been in use for thousands of years, it is safe.

No serious risks have been linked with the use of Coriolus versicolor or products derived from Semen Cassiae.