Senna (Cassia angustifolia, Vahl) is a medicinal plant which reaches the height of 5 meters and more, belonging to the Caesalpiniaceae family and is from India, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan. Very similar to Senna is Senna alexandrina, a smaller Vahl which reaches 2 meters of height. Both flower with yellow flowers.

Senna is used for both its antibacterial and laxative properties. 

The mechanism by which Senna acts as a laxative concerns the selective action on the nervous plexus of the intestinal smooth muscle which increases intestinal motility (1)

It is also used to treat skin diseases, helminthic and parasitic infections (2).

The seeds are soft, dicotyledonous and contain about 50% endosperm.

Worldwide, a major cause of morbidity and mortality is diabetes mellitus. This study provides evidence that extracts of radish (Raphanus sativus Linn) and Cassia angustifolia (Vahl.) improve metabolic abnormalities associated with diabetes and may delay the risk of complications due to chronic hyperglycemia. The beneficial effects of both extracts in diabetes seem to be attributed to the synergistic effects of its bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, and glycosides (3).

This study revealed extensive anthelmintic activity of both Cassia angustifolia and Cassia alata and Cassia occidentalis (4).

Senna Cassia angustifolia studies

Safety

Care should be taken not to ingest significant amounts of this plant as long-term use of Senna can lead to laxative dependence and liver damage (1)

Bibliografia_______________________________________________________________

(1) Haoudar A, Chekhlabi N, El Kettani C, Dini N. Acute Hepatitis and Pancytopenia in a Child With Chronic Abuse of Senna. Cureus. 2021 Jan 2;13(1):e12436. doi: 10.7759/cureus.12436.

(2) Boonhok R, Sangkanu S, Norouzi R, Siyadatpanah A, Mirzaei F, Mitsuwan W, Charong N, Wisessombat S, Pereira ML, Rahmatullah M, Wilairatana P, Wiart C, Tabo HA, Dolma KG, Nissapatorn V. Amoebicidal activity of Cassia angustifolia extract and its effect on Acanthamoeba triangularis autophagy-related gene expression at the transcriptional level. Parasitology. 2021 May 10:1-9. doi: 10.1017/S0031182021000718.

(3) Jani DK, Goswami S. Antidiabetic activity of Cassia angustifolia Vahl. and Raphanus sativus Linn. leaf extracts. J Tradit Complement Med. 2019 Mar 6;10(2):124-131. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2019.03.002.

(4) Kundu S, Roy S, Lyndem LM. Broad spectrum anthelmintic potential of Cassia plants. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2014 May;4(Suppl 1):S436-41. doi: 10.12980/APJTB.4.2014C1252.