Sonhali, Amaltas

Amaltas (Cassia fistula Linn. also known as Bactyrilobium fistula Willd,) (Cassia) belongs to the family Caesalpiniaceae. The plant is cultivated as an ornamental throughout India.

It is a deciduous and mixed-monsoon forest throughout greater parts of India, ascending to 1300 m in outer Himalaya. It has been reported to possess hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, antifungal etc. properties. It is also used to check wounds healing, as an antibacterial. It also regulates the hormonal imbalances in the body. A water soluble extract produced in a GMP certified facility delivers the goodness of nature in its most potent form- A standardized extract that is certified for quality.

Amaltas fruit is a fruit with a pungent odor that serves many seeds from inside. The young leaves of Amalatas and flower buds can be cooked as a stew. Soft leaves are taken as a soup are good for digestion.

The extract exhibited significant, dose-dependent antitussive activity compared with the control. The antitussive activity was comparable with that of codeine phosphate, a prototypes antitussive agent Leukotriene inhibition activity Kumar et al. (1998) studied that the methanol extract of fruits of C. fistula inhibited the 5- lipoxygenase catalysed formation of leukotriene B4 in bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (IC50 value of 38 micro g/ml). Lipid peroxidation in bovine brain phospholipid liposomes Antipyretic activity T. Bhakta et al. (2001) examined the methanol extract of buds of C. fistula for its antipyretic action on normal body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia (fever) in rats. The extract showed significant activity in both the models at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg.