Abstract

Cassia nodosa Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb. is an ornamental plant which belongs to the family Fabaceae. It does not have the appropriate phytochemical and biological investigation. This was the first time to investigate anti-oxidant and cytotoxic activity of Cassia nodosa flowers, leaves, stem bark methanolic extracts and their fractions (petroleum ether, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate and n-butanol). Besides, some pure constituents isolated from C. nodosa were assessed as anti-oxidant and cytotoxic agents. Remarkable results were obtained specially for stem bark methanolic extract as a strong cytotoxic agent against MCF-7 and VERO cell lines. Chrysophanol (IV) displayed the highest activity as anti-oxidant (anti-hemolytic and DNA protective agent). Anti-oxidant activity of it was higher than ascorbic acid which was the positive control. This was the first time to isolate Kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-β-D-glucoside (I) from ethyl acetate fraction of leaves. Isolation of 4,5-dihydroxyanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (rhein) (III) and 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl anthraquinone (chrysophanol) (IV) was achieved from methylene chloride fraction of flowers and stem bark, respectively. Kaempferol 3-O-α-L- rhamnoside (II) was isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of leaves besides compound (I).

Key words: Cassia nodosa, erythrocyte hemolysis, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)  (ABTS) assay, bleomycin, cytotoxic, kaempferol rhamnosyl glucoside, kaempferol rhamnoside, rhein, chrysophanol.