Biological assay of Cassia podocarpa: a plant related to senna

Leaves of the plant, Cassia podocarpa, were collected from Opah village near Accra, and dried. A suspension of the powdered leaf was given by gavage to groups of ten mice. A record was kept of the number of wet faeces passed in 24 hours. There was a linear relationship between the log dose of leaf and the number of wet faeces. The effect was maximal between 6 and 24 hours of administration and was larger than has been noted with senna.