Senna (Seminar)

SENNA
1. Synonyms :
Senna leaf, Sennae folium, Senai-ki-patti, Tinnevelly senna, Cassia
Senna
2. Biological Source :
It consists of dried leaflets of Cassia angustifolia Vahl.
It contains NLT 1.0% of anthracene derivatives as sennoside A and B.
3. Family :
Leguminosae
4. Geographical Source :
Indian senna is cultivated and collected in India.
Its cultivation is mainly done in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat state
and Rajasthan.
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5. HISTORY:
Senna was known to physicians from very old days and was
included in Unani medicine.
About 26 species of genus Cassia have been reported to contain

anthracene derivatives either in free form or glycosides.
Out of them, Cassia angustifolia (Indian Senna) and Cassia

acutifolia (Alexandrian Senna) are official in different
pharmacopoeias because of cathratic activity and also because
they are available in large quantities.
कॅ थरॅटिक
The other species with known cathratic activity are C. alata, C.
fistula, C.obovata, C. podocarpa, C. sieberiana, C. sofora, C.
dentata, C. javanica etc.
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6. CULTIVATION AND
COLLECTION:
Sowing by seed broadcasting method (surface is triturated with sand and seeds are
sown thinly, requires red loamy soil)
First sowing - Feb/Mar. Second sowing - Oct/Nov.
First plucking - leaflets fully grown, second plucking - after one month of first
plucking. Last plucking - after 4-6 weeks of second.
Uprooted plant after third plucking
Leaflets are dried in shade for 7-10 days.
Leaves are tossed ( move from side to side or back and forth) to separate
pods.
Then packed in to large bundles under hydraulic pressure.

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7. Macroscopic Characters :
•Colour – Yellowish-green
•Odour – Slight
•Taste – Mucilagenous, bitter and characteristic.
•Size – 7 to 8 mm in width and 25 to 60 mm in length.
•Shape – Leaves are lanceole, entire, apex is acute with spine at the top.
The trichomes are present on both the surfaces.
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8. Microscopic Characters :
Senna consists of iso-bilateral leaf with following characters-
The epidermis has unicellular, conical, thick-walled warty trichomes.
Trichomes are slightly curved at their bases and are present on both the
surfaces.
रुबियासीस
Rubiaceous or paracytic stomata are present on epidermal surfaces.
Palisade tissue is present on both the sides, consisting of

rectangular cells, enclosing cluster – crystals of calcium oxalate.
.
Leafs contains spongy mesophyll and conducting tissues.
A patch of sclerenchyma towards upper epidermis and above

xylem (also known as pericyclic fibers) is present.
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Transverse section of senna leaf
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9. Chemical Constituents :
1. Senna contains mainly 2 anthraquinone glycosides called sennoside A and
sennoside B (not less than 2.5%) which account for its purgative property.
2. Sennoside A and B are stereo isomers of each other. They are dimeric
glycosides with rhein dianthrone as aglycone.
3. In sennoside B, the aglycone is in meso form whereas in sennoside A, it is

dextro-rotatory.
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4. Senna leaf also contains other anthraquinone glycosides in small amounts.
They are sennosides C and D, rhein, kaempferol, aloe emodin and
isorhamnetin. It also contains phytosterol, mucilage, resin, myricyl alcohol,
salicylic acid, chrysophanic acid and calcium oxalate.
5. It is also reported that besides anthraquinone glycosides, senna contains two

nepthalene glycosides called tinnevellin glycoside and 6- hydroxy musizin
glycoside.
Rhein
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10. Chemical Test :
1. Borntragers Test (For Anthraquinone):
The drug + dilute sulphuric acid
boil
filtered
filtrate + benzene /ether /chloroform

shake
Separate organic layer
ammonia is added slowly to organic layer
Colour changes from pink to red
presence of anthraquinone glycosides. 9

11. Assay :
1. Chemical Method-
 TLC
 Spectrophotometricy
 Spectrocolorimetry
2. Biological Method-
 Determined by the number of wet faeces produced by groups of mice
in 24 hours after oral administration of drug suspension.
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12. Adulterants and Substitutes :
1. Tinnevelly senna is found to be adulterated with Dog senna (C.

obovata), Palthe senna (C. auriculata) and Mumbai, Mecca and
Arabian senna mild variety of C. angustifolia from Arabia.
2. In Dog senna, the leaves are obovate in shape and with tapering
apex. They show papillose cells in epidermis. They contain about
1% of anthraquinone glycosides.
3. Palthe senna is characterized by absence of anthraquinone

glycosides. The leaflets show long hair and when the leaves are
boiled with chloral hydrate solution, it shows crimson colour.
4. The leaflets of Bombay, Mecca and Arabian senna are brownishgreen

in colour and more elongated and narrower in shape.
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13. Uses :
1. As purgative
The anthraquinone glycosides of senna are absorbed
first in intestinal tract after which the aglycone part is
separated and excreted in colon.
These excreted anthraquinones irritate and stimulate the
colon thereby movements are increased due to local action.
The increase in peristalsis also causes reduction in the
water absorption.
This results in soft and bulky faeces.
2. Gripping Effect
It is due to its resin or emodin content.
The drug given by parenteral way is secreted in colon and
thereby causes the therapeutic action and gripping.
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THANK YOU
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Senna (Seminar)

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SENNA

About 26 species of genus Cassia have been reported to contain

Out of them, Cassia angustifolia (Indian Senna) and Cassia

First sowing - Feb/Mar. Second sowing - Oct/Nov.

Uprooted plant after third plucking

Leaflets are dried in shade for 7-10 days.

Then packed in to large bundles under hydraulic pressure.

•Taste – Mucilagenous, bitter and characteristic.

•Size – 7 to 8 mm in width and 25 to 60 mm in length.

Senna consists of iso-bilateral leaf with following characters-

The epidermis has unicellular, conical, thick-walled warty trichomes.

Palisade tissue is present on both the sides, consisting of

A patch of sclerenchyma towards upper epidermis and above

3. In sennoside B, the aglycone is in meso form whereas in sennoside A, it is

5. It is also reported that besides anthraquinone glycosides, senna contains two

filtrate + benzene /ether /chloroform

Separate organic layer

ammonia is added slowly to organic layer

Colour changes from pink to red

presence of anthraquinone glycosides. 9

1. Tinnevelly senna is found to be adulterated with Dog senna (C.

3. Palthe senna is characterized by absence of anthraquinone

4. The leaflets of Bombay, Mecca and Arabian senna are brownishgreen

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