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Senna

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Synonyms: Alexandrian senna, Tinnevelly senna. Folia senna

Biological source:

Botanical name: Cassia acutifolia (Alexandrian Senna), Cassia angustifolia (Tinnevelly Senna)

Part used: dried leaflets

Family: Leguminosae

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Geographical source:

  • Alexandrian Senna is native to South Africa. Widely grows and cultivated in Egypt and upper region of Nile river.
  • Tinnevelly Senna (or Indian senna) is indigenous to south Arabia. Cultivated also in India.

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Macroscopical features

    • Color: yellowish green (Tinnevelly Senna); greyish green (Alexandrian Senna)
    • Odor: slight and characteristic
    • Taste: bitter, mucilagenous
    • Shape: lanceolate to ovate lanceolate
    • Size: 3-5 cm long, 2 cm wide
    • Other features: acute apex, enitre margin and asymmetric base. Leaves of Tinnevelly Senna are larger and firmer in texture

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Microscopical features

  • Upper and lower epidermis contain few cells containing mucilage.
  • Single layer of palisade is observed at both sides.
  • Paracytic stomata present
  • Unicellular trichomes present
  • Spongy mesophyll contains cluster crystals of calcium oxalate.
  • Vascular bundle is almost surrounded by pericyclic fibers and sheath of parenchyma is present which contains prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate.

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Chemical constituents

Few important constituents include Sennosides A, B, C, D aloe-emodin, rhein, palmidin A etc

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Pharmacological action / Uses

    • Laxative
    • Causes irritation of large intestine and has some griping effect. Thus they are prescribed with carminatives.