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Chakramarda

Cassia tora L. (syn. Senna tora)

Chakramarda (Cassia tora L. (syn. Senna tora)) is a plant drug from the Fabaceae family. Dadru (ringworm): traditionally used for ringworm. Laboratory studies have reported that isolated anthraquinones (chrysophanol, emodin, physcion) showed stronger antifungal activity than the crude extract. Listed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.

Key facts
Botanical nameCassia tora L. (syn. Senna tora)
Currently accepted nameSenna tora (L.) Roxb., the name above is treated as a synonym by GBIF; both are in use
FamilyFabaceae · other entries in this family
OrderFabales
Pharmacopoeia statusListed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Referenced in WHO regional traditional medicine databases. Widely recognized in traditional medicine systems of India, China, and Southeast Asia for skin fungal conditions. No dedicated WHO monograph published.
Taxon identifiersGBIF 5354127 · Wikidata Q21872227 · NCBI Taxonomy 362788

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2007 to 2025, every one with a DOI.

  • 3Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 9Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
SanskritChakramarda
EnglishSickle senna, Foetid cassia
Latin/BotanicalCassia tora L. (syn. Senna tora)

Key Phytochemical Constituents

  • Chrysophanol (anthraquinone - primary antifungal)
  • Emodin (anthraquinone with anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity)
  • Physcion (anthraquinone)
  • Obtusin and aurantio-obtusin (anthraquinone glycosides)
  • Rhein (anthraquinone)
  • 1-Desmethylaurantio-obtusin
  • Toralactone (naphtho-pyranone)
  • Rubrofusarin (naphthopyranone)

How does it work?

  • Anthraquinone antifungal mechanism: Chrysophanol and emodin disrupt fungal cell membrane integrity by interfering with ergosterol biosynthesis, leading to fungal cell lysis and death
  • Emodin anti-inflammatory NF-kB pathway: Emodin suppresses NF-kB activation and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine cascade
  • Chrysophanol antibacterial action: Chrysophanol inhibits bacterial protein synthesis and damages bacterial DNA, providing broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against skin pathogens including S. aureus and S. epidermidis
  • Toralactone antioxidant protection: Naphtho-pyranone compounds scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress in skin tissues, supporting overall skin health

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.

  • Dadru (ringworm): traditionally used for ringworm. Laboratory studies have reported that isolated anthraquinones (chrysophanol, emodin, physcion) showed stronger antifungal activity than the crude extract against T. mentagrophyte.
  • Kushtha (skin fungal infections): traditionally used for skin fungal infections. Laboratory studies have reported broad-spectrum antifungal activity against Microsporon nanum, Candida albicans, and other dermatophytes.
  • Eczema and inflammatory skin conditions: traditionally used for eczema and inflammatory skin conditions. Studies have reported anti-inflammatory activity of emodin linked to NF-kB suppression.

What do recent studies show?

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • Anthraquinone-containing preparations may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Seeds contain anthraquinone glycosides with laxative effects - oral use should be dose-controlled to avoid gastrointestinal disturbance
  • Limited formal toxicology data available for topical dermatological applications. Not recommended for prolonged internal use due to anthraquinone content

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

  • Chrysophanol
  • Emodin
  • Physcion
  • Glycosides
  • Rhein
  • Obtusin and aurantio-obtusin
  • Toralactone
  • Rubrofusarin

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (seed powder), Lepa (seed paste for external use), Taila (oil), Kashayam (decoction), Capsule, Ointment

Standard Dosage: 1-3g seed powder twice daily; external paste applied twice daily for skin conditions; 500mg extract capsule; 50-100ml leaf decoction

Optimal Timing: External application twice daily for skin conditions (clean and dry skin first); oral use before meals; seed paste applied at bedtime for fungal infections

Storage: Seeds and powder in airtight containers. Oil in amber glass bottles. Ointments at room temperature in tubes. Protect from light, anthraquinones are photosensitive.

Marker Compounds: Chrysophanol, Physcion, Emodin, Obtusin, Aurantio-obtusin, Chryso-obtusin, Rubrofusarin, Torachrysone

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Karanja (Pongamia) for antifungal skin formulations
  • With Haridra for ringworm and dermatophytosis
  • With Daruharidra for skin infections
  • With Neem oil for comprehensive antifungal topicals
  • With Bakuchi for vitiligo and skin depigmentation

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews3

  1. Liu Y, Sun X, Hu X and others. 2023. Pharmacological properties and underlying mechanisms of aurantio‑obtusin (Review)Experimental and therapeutic medicine. PMID 37456169 · doi:10.3892/etm.2023.12079
  2. Hwang SY, Na CS, Moon BC and others. 2022. Preclinical activities of Cassia tora Linn against aging-related diseasesExpert reviews in molecular medicine. PMID 36281483 · doi:10.1017/erm.2022.33
  3. Zhou YX, Xia W, Yue W and others. 2015. Rhein: A Review of Pharmacological ActivitiesEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 26185519 · doi:10.1155/2015/578107

Laboratory and animal studies9

  1. Rajan SK, Arya SS. 2025. Valorization of Cassia tora Seeds: Extraction and Biofunctional Characterization of Cassia tora Seed GumBiopolymers. PMID 40103345 · doi:10.1002/bip.70011
  2. Peng F, Fang F, Xiang R and others. 2022. Engineering properties of Cassia tora L. seeds and meal as a function of moisture contentScientific reports. PMID 35606481 · doi:10.1038/s41598-022-12748-7
  3. Nawabjohn MS, Sivaprakasam P, Anandasadagopan SK and others. 2022. Green Synthesis and Characterisation of Silver Nanoparticles Using Cassia tora Seed Extract and Investigation of Antibacterial PotentialApplied biochemistry and biotechnology. PMID 34611854 · doi:10.1007/s12010-021-03651-4
  4. Sharma D, Kumar V, Nautiyal R and others. 2020. Synthesis and characterization of quaternized Cassia tora gum using Taguchi L'16 approachCarbohydrate polymers. PMID 31952579 · doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115731
  5. Puri BK. 2018. Editorial: The Potential Medicinal Uses of Cassia tora Linn Leaf and Seed ExtractsReviews on recent clinical trials. PMID 29469686 · doi:10.2174/157488711301180131145359
  6. Chethana KR, Senol FS, Orhan IE and others. 2017. Cassia tora Linn.: A boon to Alzheimer's disease for its anti-amyloidogenic and cholinergic activitiesPhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 28887919 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2017.06.002
  7. Sreelakshmi V, Abraham A. 2016. Anthraquinones and flavonoids of Cassia tora leaves ameliorate sodium selenite induced cataractogenesis in neonatal ratsFood & function. PMID 26786764 · doi:10.1039/c5fo00905g
  8. Zhu LC, Zhao ZG, Yu SJ. 2008. 2-Hydr-oxy-1,6,7,8-tetra-meth-oxy-3-methyl-anthraquinoneActa crystallographica. Section E, Structure reports online. PMID 21201403 · doi:10.1107/S1600536807067864
  9. El-Halawany AM, Chung MH, Nakamura N and others. 2007. Estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activities of Cassia tora phenolic constituentsChemical & pharmaceutical bulletin. PMID 17917292 · doi:10.1248/cpb.55.1476

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.