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Phytochemical investigations of Senna tora seeds led to the isolation of fourteen phenolic glycosides, including three new compounds, namely, sennatorosides A–C (1–3). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were confirmed by a detailed analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-QTOF mass, and ECD spectra. Among the isolated compounds, 1-[(1-( - d -glucopyranosyl)oxy-8-hydroxy-methoxynaphthalen)-6-yl]propan-2-one (11) exhibited strong cytotoxic activity against three tested cancer cell lines, SK-LU-1 (lung cancer), HepG2 (hepatoma cancer), and MCF-7 (breast cancer), with IC50 values of 8.05 ± 0.28, 9.52 ± 1.20, and 8.54 ± 0.85 μM, respectively, whereas compounds 1–4, 6–9, 12, and 14 revealed moderated or weak cytotoxicity, with IC50 values ranging from 44.59 ± 5.03–98.24 ± 2.45 μM.

Polyphenols in many plant foods have received a great deal of attention due to their biological potency and postulated protective role against certain non-communicable diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular disease. The current study focuses on 15 indigenous plants which are traditionally being used for medicinal and other purposes in Bangladesh. Specifically, this study aimed to determine the total phenolic content (TPC), profile the polyphenolic composition, and assess the antioxidant capacity (AC) of water and methanol extracts derived from these plants. The TPC was estimated using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and DPPH inhibition was used to assess the AC. HPLC-centered simultaneous determination method of polyphenols was employed to identify and quantify individual polyphenolic compounds. TPC content (expressed as mg GAE/100 g FW) ranged from 15.5 (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) to 276.9 (Moringa oleifera). The lowest IC50 in the water and methanol extracts were shown by Moringa oleifera and Zanthoxylum rhetsa respectively and they also exhibited high free radical scavenging activity in the corresponding solvents (91.9% and 92.9% DPPH inhibition by Moringa oleifera and Zanthoxylum rhetsa respectively). The lowest DPPH inhibition was observed in Alternanthera philoxeroides (29.8%) and Spilanthes calva (24.5%) in the water and methanol extracts respectively. Ten polyphenols (coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, apigenin, apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, quercetin-3-β-D-glucoside, luteolin, quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, isorhamnetin and kaempferol) were initially identified and subsequently quantified in the plant extracts. Spilanthes calva, Moringa oleifera, Oxalis corniculata, and Piper retrofractum contained the highest amount of coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid, apigenin, caffeic acid and apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside respectively. Senna tora had the greatest amount of kaempferol, quercetin-3-β-D-glucoside, and isorhamnetin whereas luteolin and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside were observed to be the maximum in Alternanthera sessilis. To conclude, Moringa oleifera and Senna tora with high percentage of DPPH inhibition and low IC50 were the most potent antioxidant sources among the analyzed samples. Bioresearch Commu. 7(1): 947-954, 2021 (January)

Senna tora is one of the homologous crops used as a medicinal food containing an abundance of anthraquinones. Type III polyketide synthases (PKSs) are key enzymes that catalyze polyketide formation; in particular, the chalcone synthase-like (CHS-L) genes are involved in anthraquinone production. Tandem duplication is a fundamental mechanism for gene family expansion. However, the analysis of the tandem duplicated genes (TDGs) and the identification and characterization of PKSs have not been reported for S. tora. Herein, we identified 3087 TDGs in the S. tora genome; the synonymous substitution rates (Ks) analysis indicated that the TDGs had recently undergone duplication. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that the type III PKSs were the most enriched TDGs involved in the biosynthesis of the secondary metabolite pathways, as evidenced by 14 tandem duplicated CHS-L genes. Subsequently, we identified 30 type III PKSs with complete sequences in the S. tora genome. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the type III PKSs were classified into three groups. The protein conserved motifs and key active residues showed similar patterns in the same group. The transcriptome analysis showed that the chalcone synthase (CHS) genes were more highly expressed in the leaves than in the seeds in S. tora. The transcriptome and qRT-PCR analysis showed that the CHS-L genes had a higher expression in the seeds than in other tissues, particularly seven tandem duplicated CHS-L2/3/5/6/9/10/13 genes. The key active-site residues and three-dimensional models of the CHS-L2/3/5/6/9/10/13 proteins showed slight variation. These results indicated that the rich anthraquinones in S. tora seeds might be ascribed to the PKSs’ expansion from tandem duplication, and the seven key CHS-L2/3/5/6/9/10/13 genes provide candidate genes for further research. Our study provides an important basis for further research on the regulation of anthraquinones’ biosynthesis in S. tora.

We previously reported the potential of Senna tora L. seeds fermented by Lactobacillus casei (FSL) as a laxative agent in a loperamide-induced constipation rat model. Here, we examine the mechanism of action of FSL and its bioactive compound, revealed herein, on loperamide-induced constipation Sprague Dawley rat model. We identified the compound aurantio-obtusin (AO) using HPLC quantitative analysis. Rats were randomly assigned to six experimental groups (eight rats each)-normal and constipated groups (loperamide, FSL [100, 300, 500 mg/kg], and AO [1 mg/kg]). The FSL and AO-treated group showed an increase in the frequency, amount, and water content of feces in the constipated rat. Moreover, FSL and AO increased the intestinal transit speed in the constipated rat. Histological analysis revealed that FSL and AO recovered the intestinal mucus, the number of goblet cells, as well as thickness of the mucosa layer and muscle. Furthermore, the protein levels of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3, which is involved in intestine contraction, were recovered in the FSL and AO-treated group. Its downstream signaling pathway (p-protein kinase C) was recovered by FSL and AO treatment. In conclusion, fermentation of S. tora L. seeds increases AO, which improves intestinal function, indicating that FSL is effective for treating constipation.

Senna tora is a widely used medicinal plant. Its health benefits have been attributed to the large quantity of anthraquinones, but how they are made in plants remains a mystery. To identify the genes responsible for plant anthraquinone biosynthesis, we reveal the genome sequence of S. tora at the chromosome level with 526 Mb (96%) assembled into 13 chromosomes. Comparison among related plant species shows that a chalcone synthase-like (CHS-L) gene family has lineage-specifically and rapidly expanded in S. tora. Combining genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and biochemistry, we identify a CHS-L gene contributing to the biosynthesis of anthraquinones. The S. tora reference genome will accelerate the discovery of biologically active anthraquinone biosynthesis pathways in medicinal plants., Anthraquinones are aromatic polyketides and have been used for treating various diseases, but the biosynthetic pathway is unclear. Here, the authors assemble the genome of an anthraquinone-producing medicinal plant Senna tora and show the evidences that CHS-like genes may be involved in anthraquinone biosynthesis.

This research aims to develop canine shampoo containing Senna tora seed extract. The crude ethanolic extract was partial purified through column chromatography. The extract and shampoo formulation were identified for four main anthraquinones i.e. aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion using a RP-HPLC. Formulation development was evaluated for compositions, physical properties, and antifungal activity against Microsporum canis. Our results indicated that sodium lauryl ether sulfate (20%) was an appropriate detergent with cocamidopropyl betain (4-6%) as a foam booster. Polyethylene glycol-120 methylglucose (2-3%) was a thickening agent and propylene glycol (6-7%) was a co-solvent and humectant. This shampoo showed relatively potent antifungal activity against M. canis compared with 2% ketoconazole commercial shampoo (%inhibition 75.27 and 85.85, respectively). The formulation was clear, dark brown liquid with delicate and stable foam, including effective cleaning action. Although this shampoo showed decrease in pH and viscosity after heating and cooling acceleration test, it was still effective as antifungal against M. canis with %inhibition of 69.10. Further long term stability study and some optimizations are still needed.

Allelochemicals are eco-friendly and play a significant part in weed control. In this regard, an in-vitro investigation was performed to evaluate the phytotoxic potential of Nicotiana. plumbaginifolia Viv. on Senna sophera (L.) Roxb., Chenopodium album L., Senna tora (L.) Roxb. and Setaria viridis L. The experiment is aimed to assess the impact of leaf leachate of the allelopathic plant on the biochemical parameters (chlorophyll, carbohydrate, protein and proline content) of recipient weeds. The treatments showed a retarding effect on the biochemical events. Carbohydrate and proline content were increased in test plants whereas protein and chlorophyll content declined in comparison to the control. Aqueous leachates proved to be more suppressive than organic fractions on weeds viz; S. sophera and C. album were suppressed more as compared to S. tora and S. viridis. The GC–MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry) analysis showed the incidence of different phytochemical entities in the leaf methanolic extract of leaf of N. plumbaginifolia. Forty three compounds were identified representing 98.98% of total methanolic extract composition. The main chemical components were Palmitic acid (17.50%), Palmitoleic acid (14.32%), Oleic acid (13.83), Phytol (8.46%), Neophytadiene (5.47%) and Solasodine (4.23%). The allelopathy of the volatile allelochemicals may perform a vital part in inhibiting the competitive ability of weed species and be one of the alternatives to control weed infestation.

Wounds in tissues provide a pathway of entry for pathogenic fungi and bacteria in plants. Plants respond to wounding by regulating the expression of genes involved in their defense mechanisms. To analyze this response, we investigated the defense-related genes induced by wounding in the leaves of Senna tora using RNA sequencing. The genes involved in jasmonate and ethylene biosynthesis were strongly induced by wounding, as were a large number of genes encoding transcription factors such as ERFs, WRKYs, MYBs, bHLHs, and NACs. Wounding induced the expression of genes encoding pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, such as PR-1, chitinase, thaumatin-like protein, cysteine proteinase inhibitor, PR-10, and plant defensin. Furthermore, wounding led to the induction of genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and the accumulation of kaempferol and quercetin in S. tora leaves. All these genes were expressed systemically in leaves distant from the wound site. These results demonstrate that mechanical wounding can lead to a systemic defense response in the Caesalpinioideae, a subfamily of the Leguminosae. In addition, a co-expression analysis of genes induced by wounding provides important information about the interactions between genes involved in plant defense responses.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Senna tora was characterized from Illumina pair-end sequencing. The chloroplast genome of S. tora was 161,050 bp in length, containing a large single-copy region (LSC) of 90,411 bp, a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,537 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,050 bp. The overall GC content is 36.20%, while the correponding values of the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 64.5%, 69.4%, and 60.2%, respectively. The genome contains 129 complete genes, including 8 rRNAs, 37 tRNAs and 84 protein coding genes. The Neighbour-joining phylogenetic analysis showed that S. tora and S. bicapsularis clustered together as sisters to other Senna species.

Tandem repeats can occupy a large portion of plant genomes and can either cause or result from chromosomal rearrangements, which are important drivers of dysploidy-mediated karyotype evolution and speciation. To understand the contribution of tandem repeats in shaping the extant Senna tora dysploid karyotype, we analyzed the composition and abundance of tandem repeats in the S. tora genome and compared the chromosomal distribution of these repeats between S. tora and a closely related euploid, Senna occidentalis. Using a read clustering algorithm, we identified the major S. tora tandem repeats and visualized their chromosomal distribution by fluorescence in situ hybridization. We identified eight independent repeats covering ~85 Mb or ~12% of the S. tora genome. The unit lengths and copy numbers had ranges of 7–5,833 bp and 325–2.89 × 106, respectively. Three short duplicated sequences were found in the 45S rDNA intergenic spacer, one of which was also detected at an extra-NOR locus. The canonical plant telomeric repeat (TTTAGGG)n was also detected as very intense signals in numerous pericentromeric and interstitial loci. StoTR05_180, which showed subtelomeric distribution in Senna occidentalis, was predominantly pericentromeric in S. tora. The unusual chromosomal distribution of tandem repeats in S. tora not only enabled easy identification of individual chromosomes but also revealed the massive chromosomal rearrangements that have likely played important roles in shaping its dysploid karyotype.

Senna torais a widely used medicinal plant. Its health benefits have been attributed to the large quantity of anthraquinones, but how they are made in plants remains a mystery. To identify the genes responsible for plant anthraquinone biosynthesis, we sequenced and annotated the genome ofS. toraat the chromosome level with contig N50 and super-scaffold N50 of 4.03 Mb and 41.7 Mb. Comparison among related plant species showed that a chalcone synthase-like (CHS-L) gene family has lineage-specifically and rapidly expanded inS. tora. Combining genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and biochemistry, we identified a CHS-L responsible for biosynthesis of anthraquinones, the first example in plants. TheS. torareference genome will accelerate the discovery of biologically active anthraquinone biosynthesis pathways in medicinal plants.One Sentence SummaryThe chromosome-scale reference genome of a medicinal plantSenna tora, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and biochemical analysis provide new insights into anthraquinone biosynthesis in plants.

A native of southern China, India, Iran, Indochina, Japan, the Philippines, and Java. Muslim writers described seeds and leaves to have solvent properties in those forms of skin diseases accompanied with induration, such as leprosy, keloid and psoriasis. Seeds ground with sour buttermilk are used to ease irritation of itchy eruptions, and the root, rubbed on a stone with lime juice is one of the best remedies for ringworm. In Unani medicine, seeds and leaves are described as purgative, blood purifier, good for piles, and to expel phlegm and black-bile; and useful as a paste for skin diseases, such as leprosy, vitiligo, bahq, and kalaf, and cold diseases, such as paralysis and arthritis. In India, it is also used in oral healthcare to treat plaque and caries, and prescribed for various eye and liver disorders. Decoction of the whole plant is used as vermifuge and purgative in the Philippines. In Chinese medicine, it is considered a superior drug and has been recorded in The Herbal by Shen Nung. Dried ripe seeds are used for headache with fever, eye disorders, ophthalmia with swelling and pain, glaucoma, and dry stools. Seeds are also used as laxative and tonic, and as a popular health tea drink. Commercial products include both unroasted and roasted samples, and the laxative effect is higher in unroasted compared with the roasted seeds. Roasted seeds are favored for their flavor, and popularly used as tea in Korea. Seeds contain antihepatotoxic naphthopyrone glycosides, cassiaside and rubrofusarin-6-β-gentiobioside. Roasting of seeds decreases the contents of antihepatotoxic constituents. Anthraquinones, chrysophanol, emodin and rhein contents in the extract decreased with increased roasting temperature; the decrease in antigenotoxic potency of roasted seeds was related to reduction in their anthraquinones contents. Water extract of roasted seeds reversed B[a]P-induced DNA damage in human hepatoma cell line HepG2, which was less effective than produced by unroasted seeds. Methanol seed extract exhibits anticancer effects, induces apoptosis and exerts antimetastatic effects. It shows anti-inflammatory activity and significantly downregulates expression of genes associated with inflammation. Ethanol seed extract significantly reduced blood glucose, TC, TGs, phospholipids, and FFAs of diabetic rats.

This study was embarked upon to evaluate the efficacy of aqueous extracts of Senna tora leaf against Perenospora parasitica, causing downy mildew on cabbage. Phytochemical analysis of the leaf extracts revealed the presence of some secondary metabolites (Tannins, Saponins, Flavonoid, Glycosides, Alkaloids, Phenolic compounds and Carbohydrates) which have been reported to have antimicrobial effects. Assays were performed using extract concentrations of 1000, 500, 250, 125 mg/ml by agar well diffusion technique. Results obtained, revealed a significant difference in diameter of mycelial zone of inhibition between the concentrations. Highest zone of inhibition was recorded at 1000 and 500 mg/ml (20 and 15 mm) respectively. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were determined and recorded at 250 mg/ml. The antifungal screening revealed that the extract exhibited inhibitory activities at varying concentrations against the downy mildew pathogen. These activities observed could be attributed to the presence of active metabolites contained in the extract.Keywords: Aqueous leaf extract, Downy mildew, Perenospora parasitica and Senna tora

The consumption of sprouts has been steadily increasing due to their being an excellent source of nutrition. It is known that the bioactive constituents of legumes can be increased after germination. In this study, the extract from Senna tora sprouts is shown to exhibit improved radical scavenging activities and better neuroprotective effects in HT22 hippocampal neuronal (HT22) and R28 retina precursor (R28) cells than those from seeds due to an increased content of phenolic constituents, especially compounds 1 and 3-6. A phytochemical investigation of S. tora sprouts resulted in the isolation of two new naphthopyrone glycosides (1-2) with 27 previously reported compounds. Their structures were determined via interpreting spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 3-6 were found to possess radical scavenging activities and neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress in both neuronal cells. Hence, Senna tora sprouts and their constituents may be developed as natural neuroprotective agents via antioxidative effects.

The antifungal activity of crude methanolic leaf extract of closely related Senna obtusifolia and Senna tora of family Caesalpiniaceae was evaluated by growth inhibition analysis on four phytopathogenic fungi viz. Alternaria helianthii, Pythium aphanidermatum, Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger. In spite of morphological similarities, the methanolic leaf extracts of these species show qualitative and quantitative differences in their chemical profiles establishing them as two distinct chemo-types. The methanolic extract of both the species contain two or more antifungal compounds that act synergistically, inhibiting fungal growth and reproduction. Senna obtusifolia have shown better antifungal efficacy as compared to its close relative S. tora on all the fungal phytopathogens investigated. Scanning electron microscopy observations reveal that the crude methanolic extract induced shrinkage and distortion of fungal mycelium adversely affecting the development of reproductive structures. These results can be correlated with synergistic or additive effect imposed by two or more antifungal compounds present in the crude extract. Statistical analysis support the characteristic difference in antifungal efficacy of methanolic extract of these species. This difference may be due to different permutations and combinations of antifungal compounds present in the extract of these closely related species.

Senna tora has been used as a famous traditional medicine both in China and India to treat skin diseases, cough, hepatitis, fever, and hemorrhoids. Here, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequen...

Senna tora is an annual herb with rich source of anthraquinones that have tremendous pharmacological properties. However, there is little mention of genetic information for this species, especially regarding the biosynthetic pathways of anthraquinones. To understand the key genes and regulatory mechanism of anthraquinone biosynthesis pathways, we performed spatial and temporal transcriptome sequencing of S. tora using short RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and long-read isoform sequencing (Iso-Seq) technologies, and generated two unigene sets composed of 118,635 and 39,364, respectively. A comprehensive functional annotation and classification with multiple public databases identified array of genes involved in major secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathways and important transcription factor (TF) families (MYB, MYB-related, AP2/ERF, C2C2-YABBY, and bHLH). Differential expression analysis indicated that the expression level of genes involved in anthraquinone biosynthetic pathway regulates differently depending on the degree of tissues and seeds development. Furthermore, we identified that the amount of anthraquinone compounds were greater in late seeds than early ones. In conclusion, these results provide a rich resource for understanding the anthraquinone metabolism in S. tora.

The seasonal variation of phenol, tannin and ascorbic acid content have been investigated from leaves, stem, root and seeds of Senna tora. Comparative account of phenol contents of Senna tora showed higher level in leaves (range 5.740 to 6.408 mg/g dry wt.) than stem (range 3.768 to 4.419 mg/g dry wt.), root (range 1.284 to 1.828 mg/g dry wt.) and seeds (3.873 mg/g dry wt). Comparative account of tannin contents of Senna tora showed higher level in leaves (range 0.356 to 0.410 mg/g dry wt.) than stem (range 0.300 to 0.356 mg/g dry wt.), root (range 0.112 to 0.156 mg/g dry wt.) and seeds (2.940 mg/g dry wt.). Comparative account of ascorbic acid contents of Senna tora showed higher level in leaves (range 3.011 to 3.620 mg/g dry wt.) than stem (range 1.988 to 2.612 mg/g dry wt.), root (range 0.970 to 1.109 mg/g dry wt.) and seeds (2.067 mg/g dry wt.).

Senna tora leaves are used as traditional medicine in Africa for the treatment of many disorders. In Cameroon, the leaves of this plant are used for the treatment of convulsions and malaria. No work has been interested on the anticonvulsant activity and toxicity of Senna tora as affected by solvent extraction. This study has the objective to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity and toxicity of Senna tora extracts. The extracts were produced by maceration in 4 different solvents (water, ethanol, methanol and hydroethanol) and by decoction. Several doses (45, 112.5, 225 and 450 mg / kg) of the five Senna tora extracts were tested for their efficacy against convulsion induced by bicuculin, kainic acid, strychnine and picrotoxin. Normal, negative and positive (phenobarbital and clonazepam treatment) control treatments were equally tested. Firstly, the animal received the treatment (per os), after 1 hour all they animals received the injection of convulsivant solution except normal control. Latency time and duration of convulsion were noted. For acute toxicity, the animals received one dose (5000mg/kg) of the different extracts and were observed during 7 days. As results, it appeared that the methanolic, ethanolic and hydroethanolic extract at the dose 450 mg/kg protected 80% of mice against convulsion induced by strychnine, picrotoxin. In addition, the plant induced a significant decreased of the duration of convulsions. Moreover, no dead nor toxicity were observed for administration doses less than 5000 mg/kg body weight. Definitively, Senna tora extracts exhibit anticonvulsant and are not toxic, thus pointing out the use of the plant in the treatment of epilepsy.

Senna species and anthraquinone derivatives generated by these organisms, rhein and aloe-emodin, exert anti-inflammatory effects. These species present a similar morphology but produce different ingredients when they are used as medicinal products. In this study, a DNA barcoding- (Bar-) high-resolution melting (HRM) technique was developed using internal transcribed sequence 2 (ITS2) to differentiate between Senna alata and Senna tora as a result of significant differences in their melting profiles. We used this approach for confirmation of S. alata and S. tora raw materials, and we examined the chondroprotective properties of the ethanolic extracts of S. alata and S. tora using a porcine model of cartilage degradation induced by a combination of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and IL-1β. We found that both Senna ethanolic extracts, at a concentration of 25 μg/mL, effectively prevented cartilage degradation. Rhein and aloe-emodin were present in the extract of S. alata but not in that of S. tora. We observed a reduction in the release of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (S-GAGs) and hyaluronic acid (HA) into media in both treatments of Senna extracts, which indicated proteoglycan preservation in explant tissues. These results suggest that neither rhein nor aloe-emodin are the main factors responsible for cartilage-protecting properties. Taken together, results show that both S. alata and S. tora are promising for further development as anti-osteoarthritic agents and that Bar-HRM using ITS2 could be applied for species confirmation with Senna products.

Aurantio-obtusin, an anthraquinone compound, isolated from dried seeds of Cassia obtusifolia L. (syn. Senna obtusifolia, Fabaceae) and Cassia tora L. (syn. Senna tora). Although the biological activities of Semen Cassiae have been reported, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of aurantio-obtusin, its main compound, on RAW264.7 cells, remained unknown. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of aurantio-obtusin on lipopolysaccharide- (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells in vitro and elucidated the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. Nitric oxide production (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured by the Griess colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) were monitored by cell-based ELISA. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-&alpha, ) synthesis were analyzed using ELISA. The mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), COX-2, and the critical pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-&alpha, ) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Aurantio-obtusin significantly decreased the production of NO, PGE2, and inhibited the protein expression of COX-2, TNF-&alpha, and IL-6, which were similar to those gene expression of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-&alpha, and IL-6 (p &lt, 0.01). Consistent with the pro-inflammatory gene expression, the Aurantio-obtusin efficiently reduced the LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor-&kappa, B in RAW264.7 cells. These results suggested that aurantio-obtusin may function as a therapeutic agent and can be considered in the further development of treatments for a variety of inflammatory diseases. Further studies may provide scientific evidence for the use of aurantio-obstusin as a new therapeutic agent for inflammation-related diseases.

The seasonal variation of protein, amino acid, alkaloid and lipid content have been investigated from leaves, stem, root and seeds of Senna tora. Comparative account of protein contents of Senna tora showed higher level in seeds (26.648 mg/g dry wt.) than leaves (range 5.763 to 6.544 mg/g dry wt.), stem (range 3.785 to 4.341 mg/g dry wt.) and root (range 1.871 to 2.349 mg/g dry wt.). Comparative account of amino acid contents of Senna tora showed higher level in seeds (10.436 mg/g dry wt.) than leaves (range 0.085 to 1.143 mg/g dry wt.), stem (range 0.872 to 0.943 mg/g dry wt.) and root (range 0.287 to 0.324 mg/g dry wt.). Comparative account of alkaloid contents of Senna tora showed higher level in seeds (5.938 mg/g dry wt.) than leaves (range 3.109 to 3.749 mg/g dry wt.), stem (range 2.083 to 2.378 mg/g dry wt.) and root (range 0.854 to 1.015 mg/g dry wt.). Comparative account of lipid contents of Senna tora showed higher level in seeds (14.730 mg/g dry wt.) than leaves (range 8.638 to 9.630 mg/g dry wt.), stem (range 3.682 to 4.319 mg/g dry wt.) and root (range 1.232 to 1.914 mg/g dry wt.).