Java-bean

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Java-bean
• foetid cassia
• sickle senna
• sicklepod
• sicklepod senna
• stinking cassia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Emelista tora
• Chamaefistula contorta
• Cassia borneensis
• Cassia contorta
• Diallobus tora
• Cassia gallinaria
• Cassia humilis
• Cassia sunsub
• Cassia tagera
• Cassia tala
• Cassia tula
• Cassia tora
• Cassia tora f. hirsuta
• Cassia sagera
• Cassia malabarica
• Cassia obtusifolia var. humilis
• Chamaecrista tagera
• Tagera filiformis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified in the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Senna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across several distinct continents and regions. In Eastern Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Ukraine. Moving toward the African continent, the species is well-established throughout West Tropical Africa. Specifically, it is documented in the nations of Benin, Gambia, and Ghana. Furthermore, its presence extends to the West Tropical African country of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Senna tora is characterized by its preference for open and riparian habitats, where it often thrives in areas with access to moisture and significant sunlight exposure. This species occupies a relatively low-altitude ecological niche, maintaining an elevational range that begins as low as 5 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 300 m AMSL. Its ability to colonize disturbed or open landscapes, particularly near watercourses, allows it to establish itself within specific moisture-rich environmental gradients.

Elevational range max:

300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Habitat :

open, riparian

Life history

The life history of Senna tora is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, though its growth patterns can be variable depending on environmental conditions and resource availability. In terms of its structural development and survival strategy, it functions as a therophyte, completing its seasonal life cycle through the production of seeds that allow it to persist in the environment despite the ephemeral nature of its above-ground biomass. This therophyte life form is consistently reflected in both its primary and secondary biological classifications, indicating a reliance on temporary vegetative structures that reset with each growing season.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Senna tora is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a herb or forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. As a self-supporting species, it does not act as a climber, such as a vine or liana, but rather maintains its own structure. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, with a minimum recorded height of approximately 0.91 m, a mean height of 2 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 3.05 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3.048037064 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Plant height min:

0.914411119 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Senna tora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its native environments. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storage tissues within its structures. Its vegetative development includes leaves that reach a maximum length of 8 cm and a maximum width of 6 cm. Furthermore, Senna tora functions as a nitrogen fixer, facilitating a symbiotic relationship that allows it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, thereby enhancing its nutritional autonomy and soil enrichment capabilities.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Senna tora is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects, which facilitates the fertilization process. The plant exhibits the capacity for self-fertilization, ensuring reproductive success through yellow flowers that typically range in length from 0.4 cm to 0.8 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry fruits (pods) that vary in dimensions, with lengths ranging from 12 cm to a maximum of 25 cm and widths between 3 cm and 6 cm. These fruits are prolific, containing anywhere from 11 to 100 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are relatively small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.018315 g (ranging from 0.0129 g to 0.0235 g), a length of 3 to 4.5 mm, and a width of 2 to 2.5 mm, resulting in a consistent seed volume of 19 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed after being ingested by animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

0.8 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

25 cm

Fruit length min:

12 cm

Fruit width max:

6 cm

Fruit width min:

3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

4.5 mm

Seed length min:

3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0235 g

Seed mass mean:

0.018315 g

Seed mass min:

0.0129 g

Seed volume max:

19 mm³

Seed width max:

2.5 mm

Seed width min:

2 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

11-100

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Senna tora has 2 reported plant parts identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, leaf.

Seed

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Natural product research
3. Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB
4. International journal of molecular sciences
5. Archives of pharmacal research

Leaf

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery
5. Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA

Chemicals

Senna tora has 64 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chrysophanol, Aloe emodin, Physcion, Rhein, emodin.

Chrysophanol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Ultrasonics sonochemistry
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Natural product research
5. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Aloe emodin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. PloS one

Physcion

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
4. Lloydia

Rhein

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3. PloS one
4. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

emodin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3. Lloydia
4. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Anthraquinones

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Aurantio-obtusin

1. Food & function
2. Parasites & vectors
3. Planta medica

Obtusifolin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Alaternin

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Archives of pharmacal research

Cassiaside

1. Archives of pharmacal research
2. Planta medica

Activities

Senna tora has 250 reported activities identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antihepatotoxic, Antimutagenic, Laxative.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB

Antihepatotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Laxative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AGEs-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Senna tora has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Dry eye disease, constipation, insulin resistance, lipid peroxidation, obesity.

Dry eye disease

1. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)

Constipation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Insulin resistance

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Lipid peroxidation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Obesity

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Senna tora has 12 reported preparations identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Decoction, Ethanolic extract of C. tora seeds extract, aqueous (aq) extract, ethyl Acetate Fraction, extract.

Decoction

1. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)

Ethanolic extract of c. tora seeds extract

1. Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB

Aqueous (aq) extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Ethyl acetate fraction

1. Natural product research

Extract

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Extract from cassia tora

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Methanol (meoh) extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

N-hexane (n-hex) extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Petroleum ether (pe) extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Plant extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR