Plant Resources of Tropical Africa

Until the early 1980s, Cassia was considered a very large genus of the Caesalpiniaceae family with about 550 species. At that time the genus was split into 3 genera: Cassia in a strict sense with about 30 species, Chamaecrista with about 250 species and Senna with about 270 species. Cassia didymobotrya had its name changed in Senna didymobotrya but the old name persists and is still used in the vernacular name “peanut-butter cassia”.
“Candlebush”, the more common english vernacular name of the species, is a deciduous shrub or small tree up to 4.5(–9) m tall. Most striking are its inflorescences that are erect, axillary racemes (“candles”) of 10–50 cm long with 20–30-flowers each.

The candle bush is native to tropical Africa and is found from Congo east to Ethiopia and south to Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It has been introduced as an ornamental into many tropical countries including the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and South Africa. It was introduced into tropical Asia and America and is now cultivated there mainly as an ornamental.

Candle bush is widely used as a medicinal plant, especially in East Africa, where a decoction or infusion from the leaves, stems and roots is drunk as a laxative and purgative for the treatment of abdominal pains, while in large quantities it is taken as an emetic. The list of parasites and diseases treated is very long and includes: intestinal worms, ringworm, diarrhoea, malaria, other fevers, jaundice, abscesses of the skeletal muscles, venereal diseases, fungal and bacterial infections, hypertension, haemorrhoids, sickle cell anaemia, and a whole range of women’s diseases. Candle bush is poisonous. Decoctions from all plant parts can cause violent vomiting and diarrhoea and may be fatal.

As a crude herbal medicine it is dangerous to use as it is very toxic. Herbal extracts prepared under carefully controlled manufacturing settings have potential. Also use as a green manure, cover crop and shade tree are promising.