Home > Herbs > Senna Alexandrina Var Alexandrina
Senna alexandrina var. alexandrina
Senna alexandrina var. alexandrina, commonly known as Senna, is a prominent medicinal shrub native to Africa and the Middle East. Renowned for its potent laxative properties, it contains bioactive sennosides. This plant is widely utilized in traditional and modern medicine to effectively treat acute constipation and intestinal issues.
- Scientific name: Senna alexandrina var. alexandrina
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and the genus Senna. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined as Senna alexandrina var. alexandrina.
| Rank |
Classification |
Source |
| Kingdom |
Plantae |
WCVP |
| Phylum |
Streptophyta |
WCVP |
| Class |
Equisetopsida |
WCVP |
| Subclass |
Magnoliidae |
WCVP |
| Order |
Fabales |
WCVP |
| Family |
Fabaceae |
WCVP |
| Genus |
Senna |
WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, scientifically known as Senna alexandrina var. alexandrina, is known by several common names depending on the region and language. In English, it is most frequently referred to as Alexandrian senna, while in Arabic, it is commonly called senna (سنا). In French, the plant is known as séné, and in Spanish, it is called sen.
| Language |
Common Name |
Source |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several regions in Africa. In Northern Africa, it can be found growing in Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco. Its range extends southward into the West Tropical Africa region as well. Specifically, the species is documented in the countries of Benin and Mali. Therefore, its habitat spans both the northern and western tropical zones of the continent.
| Region |
Area |
Source |
| Northern Africa |
Algeria |
WCVP |
| Northern Africa |
Egypt |
WCVP |
| Northern Africa |
Morocco |
WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa |
Benin |
WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa |
Mali |
WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa |
Mauritania |
WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa |
Nigeria |
WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa |
Niger |
WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa |
Central African Republic |
WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa |
Gulf of Guinea Is. |
WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Senna alexandrina var. alexandrina, is widely utilized in traditional medicine, with various components offering therapeutic benefits. The medicinal properties are most frequently derived from the leaves, which contain active compounds used for their laxative effects. Additionally, the fruits of the plant are highly significant; specifically, the pods are harvested and processed for their chemical constituents. Whether examining a single leaf or the entire structure of the pod, it is clear that every part of this species plays a vital role in its pharmacological profile.
- Total parts
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 23
| Plant Part |
Sources |
Confidence |
| leaves |
8 |
★★★★☆ |
| pods |
3 |
★★☆☆☆ |
| pod |
2 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf |
2 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits |
2 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| young and mature leaf |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| root |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaflets |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extract |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypocotyl |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Senna alexandrina var. alexandrina has 8 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Laxative, Antipyretic, Antiviral, Analgesic, Antiasthmatic.
- Total activities
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Activities
| Activity |
Sources |
Confidence |
| Laxative |
3 |
★★☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic |
2 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral |
2 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiasthmatic |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antineoplastic |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitussive |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
