Abstract: Not Available
Herbal plants are frequently used to treat the human illness. Due to their medicinal potential; world’s population mostly depends upon the local herbal medicines. These medicines have advantage of low cost, lesser side effects and ready availability (Tagboto and Townson, 2001). These plants are rapidly used in agriculture, human and veterinary medicine due to their phyto-pharmaceuticals potential. Chronic diseases have been treated dominantly by the products of natural plants such as diabetes (Karim et al., 2011). There is an increasing practice of deforestation so, prompt actions are required to acquire the knowledge of natural plants for their beneficial use and their preservation (Gilani and Atta-ur-Rahman, 2005). Accurate knowledge about the natural herbal plants is essential to know beneficial effects and their reaction with other drugs. Senna (Cassia acutifolia) and germander (Teucrium polium) have proved to be toxic therefore, through investigation of such type of natural plants is essential (Sawalha et al., 2008). Cassia nigricans Vahl is a herbal plant belongs to sub-family Caesalpinioideae and have proved ability to treat skin problems like ringworm, eczema and scabies (Dalziel, 1956). It is not only used as herbal medicine but also for conventional therapy in India and South Africa (Keay, 1989). Traditional healers of Nigeria have used leaves extract of Cassia to treat peptic ulcer and other gastro-intestinal disorders (Akah et al., 1998).
According to the researchers, extracts of this plant have strong pharmacological activities. It exhibits anti-oxidant (Yen et al., 1998), anti-inflammatory, anti-plasmodia and anticancer activities (Prasanna et al., 2009). Previous researches depicted that this specie have important potential source as new Pharmacological agent. So it may be beneficial in the prophylaxis and against many illnesses of human being and livestock. Although literature is available about its pharmacological activities but there is further need to access the effects of its ingredients on the body system like cardiovascular, hematologic, respiratory, reproductive, endocrine and nervous parameters (Abo et al., 1999).
Some side effects of the extract of C. nigricans Vahl have also been reported which may be further evaluated to ensure its isolated use to treat the chronic diseases. Researchers further claimed that C. nigricans Vahl may serve as positional agents for grain storage and pest management to reduce post harvest losses. They suggested that auxiliary research work is needed to investigate its bioactive ingredients as a drug (Abo and Adeyemi, 2002).