Cassia fistula

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Cassia fistula (CF), a member of Leguminosae family, is Native to India, Amazon and Sri Lanka, is widely used for its medicinal properties in Indian system of medicine for various ailment from the ancient time. The present investigation was undertaken to investigate the anticarcinogenic action of Cassia fistula L.  extract on 2-stage skin carcinogenesis model in Swiss albino mice. The papilloma were produced on mice skin by DMBA and promoted by croton oil and one weeks later, promoted by repeated application of croton oil (1% in acetone/twice in a week) till the end of the experiment (16 weeks). After 16 weeks at the time of termination of the experiment estimation of GSH from the liver and blood tissue of the animals were also done by the method of Beutler et. al. (1963). the outcomes of the papilloma study and GSH estimation was correlated and it was found to be preventive for the formation as well as persistence of papilloma. 21 no. of papilloma were found in CF treated mice as compared to (35) untreated control mice. Our results suggest that Cassia fistula can be a cost effective future herbal alternative medicine for cancer treatment.