PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDIES ON THE LEAVES OF Cassia tora Linn. (FAM. CAESALPINIACEAE)

The leaves and seeds of Cassia tora (Family Caesalpinaceae) are used in the treatment of leprosy, ring worm, flatulence, colic, dyspepsia, constipation, cough, bronchitis and cardiac disorders in the Ayurvedic systems of medicine. The present study deals with the study of macroscopic characters of the leaves, ash values, extractive values, behavior on treatment with different chemical reagents and fluorescence characters under ultraviolet light. Preliminary phytochemical studies on different extractives of the leaves were also performed. These studies will help in the identification of the plant for further research.