Experimental Study on Collection Methods of Cassia fistula Fruit Pulp

Abstract

Abstract
Therapeutic efficacy of the plant-origin drugs depends on many aspects of the source drug like cultivation, collection, processing, storage and pharmaceutical preparations. Ayurveda advocates using Prashasta Bheshaja. Importance of drug collection method along with structure of storage house (Bheshjagara) is highlighted in Ayurveda. Aragvadh (Cassia fistula L. Caesalpinaceae family) is considered as the best drug for Mruduvirechna (mild laxative). Specific collection method of fruit pulp has been recommended in Samhita but the recent text of Dravyaguna differs in the opinion regarding the days of burring of the pods in pits filled with sand. Therefore, an experimental study was designed to study the effect on collection of Aragvadha fruit pulp and preliminary physicochemical parameters by putting pod under sand for different time periods. Experiment was carried out on five samples, viz., sample A: non-buried pod; sample B: buried for seven days; sample C: sample B kept for one month in a glass jar; sample C: buried for fourteen days; sample D: sample C kept for one month in a glass jar. Effect of experiment was also observed on hardness of the pod, consistency of the fruit pulp, organoleptic characters, total sugar, etc. The study concludes that Cassia fistula fruit pulp should be buried under sand for easy removal of its pulp. A marked difference of physicochemical and quantitative phytochemical value of buried and non-buried samples of Cassia fistula fruit pulp was observed. In buried samples, as the number of days increase, the non-reducing sugar was found to be decreased significantly. Only fully ripen pods should be collected and seven days are sufficient for the burring process.
Keywords: Cassia fistula, collection method, Aragvadha, Ayurveda