Java-bean
Senna tora · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (388 studies) · ★★★★★
Java-bean, scientifically known as Senna tora, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned for its potent laxative properties, it contains active anthraquinone glycosides used to treat constipation. Beyond digestive health, this plant holds significant value in traditional medicine for treating skin ailments and inflammatory conditions.
Names
Common Names
- Java-bean
- foetid cassia
- sickle senna
- sicklepod
- sicklepod senna
- stinking cassia
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- bicho
- brusca cimarrona
- ororuz
- tora
French:
- cassier sauvage
- pois puant
- séné
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Senna toraSynonyms
- 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
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.
| 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 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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Europe | Ukraine | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Senna tora, is valued in traditional medicine for several of its specific components. The leaves are frequently utilized, often being prepared as a whole leaf infusion or dried for topical applications. Additionally, the seeds serve as a primary source of medicinal properties, which can be processed into a fine seed powder for easier consumption. Within these seeds, the kernel of the seed contains concentrated active compounds that are essential for its therapeutic effects.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica (and other 10 sources) | ★★★★★ |
| leaves | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| kernel of the seed | The American journal of Chinese medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed powder | Lloydia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Senna tora has 64 reported phytochemicals identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chrysophanol, Aloe emodin, Physcion, Rhein, emodin.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Chrysophanol | Dr. Duke (and other 8 sources) | ★★★★☆ |
| Aloe emodin | Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Physcion | Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Rhein | Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| emodin | Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anthraquinones | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Aurantio-obtusin | Food & function (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Obtusifolin | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Alaternin | The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cassiaside | Archives of pharmacal research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Senna tora has 250 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antihepatotoxic, Antimutagenic, Laxative.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihepatotoxic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimutagenic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Laxative | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AGEs-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acetylcholinergic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Senna tora has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Dry eye disease, constipation, insulin resistance, lipid peroxidation, obesity.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Dry eye disease | Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| constipation | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| insulin resistance | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lipid peroxidation | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Decoction | Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ethanolic extract of C. tora seeds extract | Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous (aq) extract | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethyl Acetate Fraction | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extract | The American journal of Chinese medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extract from Cassia tora | The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol (MeOH) extract | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| n-hexane (n-hex) extract | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| petroleum ether (PE) extract | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| plant extracts | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |