Family : Fabaceae

English : Foetid cassia

Hindi : Cajybdam, Chakvat

Gujarati : Kuvadiyo

Sanskrit :Chakramardah, Chakramard

Part used : Seed

Botanical Description: A herbaceous foetid annual weed, almost an undershrub, upto 90cm in height; leaves pinnately compound, rachis grooved with a conical gland between eahc of the two lowest pairs of leaflets, leaflets 3 pairs, obovate oblong, membranous base somewhat oblique, main nerves 8-10 pairs, flowers yellow in subsessile pairs in the axil of the leaves, the upper ones crowded , stamens seven and three staminodes; fruits are subtetragonous obliquely septate pods 15-23cm long, the sutures are very broad; rhombohedral 25-30 per pod. Flowering and fruiting from August to November.

It is found throughout India.

Modern Pharmacological Action: Cassia tora is known to possess antimicrobial activity and antifungal activity. The water extract is known to possess antigenotoxic properties as well. They also have anti oxidant activities. They also possess Antihepatotoxic effects, Antimutagenic effects and Antinociceptive activity.