Senna is the most widely used anthranoid drug today and has been used fro centuries in Western and Eastern systems of medicicne as a laxative, usually taken as a tea or swallowed in powered form. Its medical use was first described in the writtings of Arbian physicians Serapion and Mesue as early as the 9th century A.D. The name Senna itself is Arbian.

Besides its wide use in conventional Western medicine, Senna leaf remains an important drug used in traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Indian Ayurvedic and Unani medicne.

Medicinal Parts used : Dried fruit pods and leaves (Dried leaflets), the leaf tend to be used in making tablets, the fruit (pods) is most commonly used for preparation of Senna infusion (tea), Scientifically, the pods are crushed and made into tablets.

Historical or Traditional use (may or may not be supported by scientific studies) : People in northern africa and Southwestern Asia have used Senna as a laxative for centuries. It was considered a "cleansing" herb because of its cathartic effect. In addition, the leaves were sometimes made into a paste and applied to various skin diseases. ringworm and acne were both treated in this way.

Constituents of Cassia Senna :

Anthraquinone Glycosides : In the leaf, sennosides A and B based on the aglycones sennidin A & B, Sennosides C & D which are glycosides of heterodianthrones of aloe-emodin and rhein. Others include palmidin A, rhein anthrone & aloe-emodin glycosides, some free anthraquinones and some potent, novel compounds of as yet undetermined structure. C. Senna usually contains more of the Sennosides.

Anthraquinone Glycosides : In the fruit, Sennosides A and B and a closely related glycoside Sennoside A!.

Naphthalene Glycosides, tinnevellin glycoside & 6-hydroxmusizinglycoside Miscellaneous, mucilage, flavonoids, volatile oil, sugars, resins etc.

Main effective constituents : Sennosides C, Sennosides D, Rhein, Chrysophanol, aloe-acid, isorhamnetin, barbaloin, kaempferol etc.

Senna leaf contains 1.5-3% hydroxyanthracene glycosides, mainly Sennosides A and B, which are rhein-dianthrones and smaller amounts of Sennosides C and D, which are rhein-aloe-emodin-heterodianthrones, naphthalene glycosides, flavonoids (derivatives of kaempferol and isorhamnetin), 10-12% mineral matter, 7-10% musilage (galactose, arabinose, rhamnose and galacturonic acid), about 8% polyol (pinitol), sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and resins.

 

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