INDIAN SENNA Cassia senna
Caesalpiniaceae
San: Svarnapatri; Hin: Sanay, Sana Ka Patt; Ben: Sonamukhi; Mal: Sunnamukki,
Chonnamukki, Nilavaka; Tam: Nilavirai, Nilavakai; Tel: Netatangedu
Importance
Indian Senna or Tinnevelly senna is a shrub very highly esteemed in India for its
medicinal value. The leaves are useful in constipation, abdominal disorders, leprosy, skin
diseases, leucoderma, splenomegaly, hepatopathy, jaundice, helminthiasis, dyspepsia, cough,
bronchitis, typhoid fever, anaemia, tumours and vitiated conditions of pitta and vata
(Warrier et al,1994). It is used in Ayurvedic preparations; “Pancha Sakara Churna”, “Shat
Sakara Churna” and “Madhu Yastyadi Churna” used for constipation. Its use is widespread
in Unani system and some of the important products of this system containing senna are
“Itrifal Mulayyin”, “Jawarish Ood Mulayyin”, “Hab Shabyar”, “Sufuf Mulliyin”, “Sharbat
Ahmad Shahi”, etc. used as a mild laxative (Thakur et al, 1989).
Distribution
The plant is of Mediterranean origin. It is found in Somalia, Saudi Arabia, parts of
Pakistan and Kutch area of Gujarat. It is largely cultivated in Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram,
Madurai and Salem districts of Tamil Nadu.
Botany
The genus Cassia, belonging to the family Caesalpiniaceae, comprises of a number
of species, namely,
C. senna Linn. syn. C. angustifolia Vahl.
C. absus Linn.
C. alata Linn.
C. auriculata Linn.
C. burmanni Wight. syn. C. obovata (Linn.) Collad.
C. glauca Lam.
C. javanica Linn.
C. mimosoides Linn.
C. obtusifolia Linn. syn. C. tora Linn.
C. occidentalis Linn.
C. pumila Lam.
C. slamea Lam.
C. acutifolia Delile.
C. sophera Linn.
C. senna is a shrub or undershrub, 60-75cm in height with pale subterete or obtusely
angled erect or spreading branches. Leaves are paripinnate. Leaflets are 5-8 in number,
ovate-lanceolate and glabrous. Flowers are yellowish, many and arranged in axillary
racemes. Fruits are flat legumes, greenish brown to dark brown and nearly smooth (Chopra
et al,1980, Warrier et al,1994).
In commerce, the leaves and pods obtained from C. senna are known as “ Tinnevelly
Senna” and those from C. acutifolia Delile. as “Alexandrian Senna”. The leaves of C.
acutifolia are narrower than C. senna, otherwise both resemble to a large extent (Thakur et
al, 1989). All the true Sennas have the portions of their leaves unequally divided. In some
kinds the lower part of one side is reduced to little more than a line in breadth, while the
other is from a quarter to half an inch in breadth. The drug known under the name of East
Indian Senna is nearly free from adulteration; and as its properties appear identical with
those of the Alexandrian and the price being less, it probably will supersede it in general
practice. Its size and shape readily identify it (Graves, 1996).
Agrotechnology
The plant requires a mild subtropical climate with warm winters which are free from
frost for its growth. Semiarid areas with adequate irrigation facilities are ideal for