Alexandrian senna
Senna alexandrina · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (404 studies) · ★★★★★
Alexandrian senna, scientifically known as Senna alexandrina, is a potent medicinal shrub prized for its powerful laxative properties. Primarily harvested from its leaves and pods, it contains active sennosides that stimulate bowel movements. This versatile plant remains a cornerstone in traditional medicine and modern herbal treatments for constipation.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Leaves · Fruit
- Common names
- Alexandrian Senna · Indian Senna · 4 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Cassia Alexandrina · Cassia Senna
Names
Common Names
- Alexandrian senna
- Indian senna
- Tinnevelly senna
- true senna
- East Indian senna
- Egyptian senna
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- sen de España
- sena alejandrina
German:
- Alexandrinische Senna
- Sennes
- alexandrinische Senna
French:
- Séné
- Cassia acutifolia
- Sene
- casse
- séné d'Egypte
- Séné
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Senna alexandrinaSynonyms
- Cassia alexandrina
- Cassia senna
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Senna alexandrina, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Fabales. Furthermore, it is a member of the Fabaceae family and is situated within the genus Senna.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Senna | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant, Senna alexandrina, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the African continent. In the northern region, it is widely found within the countries of Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco. Moving toward the west, its presence extends into the tropical zones of West Africa. Specifically, the species is documented to grow in Benin. Additionally, the plant can be located within the borders of Mali.
| 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, utilizes several distinct components for its medicinal properties, primarily focusing on the leaves and the reproductive structures. The leaves are frequently harvested for their therapeutic compounds, while the plant also produces specialized pods that develop from the flowers. These pods eventually mature into the fruit, which is the botanical structure containing the seeds. Whether referring to the individual fruit or the collective yield of pods, these parts are central to the plant's biological lifecycle and its traditional uses in herbal medicine.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | Frontiers in plant science (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | Veterinary and human toxicology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | The veterinary quarterly (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pods | Frontiers in plant science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Senna alexandrina has 55 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Sennoside A, Sennoside B, Sennosides, Anthraquinones, sennoside.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Sennoside A | Arzneimittel-Forschung (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Sennoside B | The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Sennosides | Frontiers in plant science (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Anthraquinones | The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sennoside | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AFB1 | Food additives & contaminants. Part B, Surveillance (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AFLATOXIN B1 | Food additives & contaminants. Part B, Surveillance (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALUMINUM | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ANTHRAQUINONE | The American journal of Chinese medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aloe emodin | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Senna alexandrina has 310 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Laxative, Purgative, Antibacterial, Hypolipidemic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Laxative | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Purgative | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypolipidemic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AP-1-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acidulant | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Allergenic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Senna alexandrina has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include constipation, Hymenolepis diminuta, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, laxative.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| constipation | Metabolites (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hymenolepis diminuta | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | Shokuhin eiseigaku zasshi. Journal of the Food Hygienic Society of Japan (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal disorders | Acta bio-medica de L'Ateneo parmense : organo della Societa di medicina e scienze naturali di Parma (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| laxative | Frontiers in plant science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 10% Cassia senna | Veterinary and human toxicology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1:1 mixture (5% + 5%) of fruits from these plants | Veterinary and human toxicology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| finished product form | Frontiers in plant science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fresh fruits | The veterinary quarterly (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | Veterinary and human toxicology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | The veterinary quarterly (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| powdered | Frontiers in plant science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |