Unlocking the Therapeutic Potential of Cassia fistula Leaves: A Phytoconstituents-Based Investigation

Cassia fistulaL is a shady tree found in different part of the World. Different part of the plant has been used to treat different diseases in traditional medicine. Certain chemical elements and compounds in plant leaves are mostly required for proper metabolic function, growth in Human and numerous health related benefits. In this study, the vitamin, mineral, proximate, phenolics contents of Cassia fistula leaves were assessed. The presence of proximate, minerals, vitamins and phenols were determined using standard methods, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) respectively. According to the standard method used in proximate analysis, the Cassia fistula leaves extracts was found to contain the following; carbohydrate (45 %), protein (28 %), moisture (13 %), lipids (6 %), fibre (4 %), and ash (4 %). The mineral element determined in the sample revealed Magnesium, Calcium, and Potassium having the highest concentrations of 177, 171, and 149 ppm, respectively. Iron, sodium, and zinc have moderate concentrations of 9.1, 8.2, and 7.1 ppm, respectively, and manganese, selenium, and copper have the lowest concentrations of 0.76, 0.73, and 0.011 ppm, respectively. HPLC results showed different vitamins in the leaves extracts such as vitamin C 19.5946 mg/100 g, while vitamin B3 and vitamin E levels were moderate at 3.43 and 2.3 mg/100 g, respectively. Also, the HPLC phenolic analysis of Cassia fistula leaves showed prominent level of Kaempferol, quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, rutin etc. and trace amount of salicylic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gentisic acid, naringin acid etc. The outcome of the study indicated that the composition obtained from Cassia fistula leaves extract established the significance of these leaves in human health and therapy. This work reveals important bioactive compounds inherent in Cassia fistula leaves which serves as insightful information to push for further studies of Cassia fistula leaves in disease therapy.