Senna leaves and it's medicinal use

Sujay Dalal 

Bengal school of technology

(A college of pharmacy)

1. INTRODUCTION

Natural products and traditional medicines are of great importance in the human kind. Since prehistoric times, humans have used natural products, such as plants, animals, microorganisms and marine organisms in medicines to alleviate and treat diseases. According to fossil records, the human use of plants as medicines may be traced back at least 60,000 years. The use of natural products as medicines must, of course, have presented a tremendous challenge to early humans. It is highly probable that when seeking food, early humans often consumed poisonous plants, which led to vomiting, diarrhoea, coma, or other toxic reactions, perhaps even death. However, in this way, early humans were able to develop knowledge about edible materials and natural medicines. 

 Natural products have been practiced all over the world for hundreds or even thousands of years. Evidence exist that Unani Hakims, Indian Vaids and European and Mediterranean cultures were using herbs for over 4000 years as medicine. Indigenous cultures such as Rome, Egypt, Iran, Africa and America used herbs in their healing rituals. 

Recently, WHO (World Health Organization) estimated that 80 percent of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of their primary health care needs. According to WHO, around 21,000 plant species have the potential for being used as medicinal plants. Apart from the medicinal uses, herbs are also used in natural dye, pest control, food, perfume, tea ect.  In many countries different kinds of medicinal plants/ herbs are used to keep ants, flies, mice and flee away from homes and offices. Now a day’s medicinal herbs are important sources for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Among ancient civilisations, India has been known to be rich repository of medicinal plants. The forest in India is the principal repository of large number of medicinal and aromatic plants, which are largely collected as raw materials for manufacture of drugs and perfumery products.About 8,000 herbal remedies have been codified in AYUSH systems in INDIA. Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Folk (tribal) medicines are the major systems of indigenous medicines. Recipes for the treatment of common ailments such as fever, inflammation diarrhoea,  hypertension, low sperm count, dysentery and weak penile erection, piles, coated tongue, menstrual disorders, bronchial asthma, leucorrhoea etc. are given by the traditional medicine 

2. LITRATURE REVIEW

2.1 Taxonomy of Senna 

Botanical Name: Cassia anugstifolia 

Kingdom: Plantae 

Division: Magnoliophyta 

Class: Mabnoliopsida

Subclass: Rosidae 

Order: Fabales

Family: Caesalpinaceae

Genus: Cassia Species: angustif

Commeen name: Indian Senna, Sana ka pat

2.2 Biological source: 

 Senna consist of fresh and dry leaves of Cassia anugstifolia belong to family Caesalpinaceae

2.3 Geographical source:

Cassia senna is aborigine of tropical Africa and Sudan while Cassia angustifolia is native to Arabia, Somalia, Sind , Punjab and  Western Rajasthan in India

2.4 Macroscopic Characters:

Cassia anugstifolia is a perennial plant, 60-80Cm tall, glabrous to subglabrous.The leaves are alternate, paripinnate, having6-10.5 cm long, with 5-9 pairs of lanceolate,Leaflets, with the whole edge, with acute tip, Long about 1.2 - 4.5 cm and 3.5-10 mm wide, Glabrous hairy on both 

sides, of pale green Colour.The flowers are on type 5, with free, slightly Zygomorphic elements, pedicles are 3-4 cm Long, grouped in terminal or axillary raceme, upto 15 cm long. The sepals are slightly uneven, yellow-green colour 10-13 mm long and 6-9 mm wide.The petals are yellow and slightly uneven, 14-17 mm long and 7-10 mm wide.

             leaves of senna

The 10 stamens are free. The ovary is hairy and stipitate. The plant blooms in April-June. The fruit is a dehiscent sparsely hairy pod, 5-6 cm long and 1.7-2.3 cm wide, slightly curved, with approx. 10 seeds. The fruits are turning black at maturity.The anatomy of the stem and leaf are similar to the Fabaceae family, being reconfirmed in specialized papers.The stem cortex consists of parenchymatous cells and some cells contain druse and solitary crystals. Vascular tissue consists of separated vascular bundles in the young stem, forming a continuous cylinder of both secondary xylem and secondary phloem. Pith cells contain druse  crystals in Senna alexandrina. Leaflets are amphystomatic with paracytic type of stomata and they have unicellular nonglandular trichrome covered with a papillose cuticle.The mesophyll of the leaflet differentiates into palisade and spongy tissues. In the leaflet intercostal region, the palisade tissue occurs below the upper and lower epidermises and spongy tissue occurs between the palisade tissues in Senna italica and Senna alexandrinaand there were clarified with chloral-hydrate for 24 hours, coloured with the carminealaunate and iodine green. (3)

2.4 Microscopic Character:

The epidermis seen from the front is made of unistratified cells with irregular contour and waxy walls. The stomata are paracytic and are present inboth epidermis, the leaf is amphistomatic. In the cross section through leaflets, the midrib is protruding to the lower surface of the leaflet and presents a single vascular bundle. The mesophyll of the leaflets has dorsiventral, structure, differentiated into one layer palisade tissue under the upper epidermis and spongy tissue formed of 4-5 rows of cellules at the lower surface. Inside the mesophyll are vascular bundles and cells with calcium oxalate, especially along the veins. (3)

 

microscopical structure of leaf of Senna

2.5 Phytochemistry of senna

Senna fruits contain about 2.5 to 4.5 percent of sennosides A and B (Not less than 2.2 per cent).Indian senna pods are inferior in glycoside content (1.5 -3 per cent0.The drug responds to Brontrager test .The pods are superior to leaves , as they contain more percentage of glycosides.The glycosides are present in pericarp of pods. The seeds contain a little quantity of sennoids.The pods also contain sennoside A1 containing (-) sennidin 8,8” diglucoside

2.6 Medicinal  uses

2.6.1Purgative :

The root and stem bark of Cassia sieberiana DC. (Caesalpiniaceae) and the root of Senna obtusifolia used for constipation in Nigeria, were assayed for laxative properties in male albino rats using the official senna leaf (Senna alexandrina Mill. family Caesalpiniaceae) as the reference standard. This is with a view to finding alternative laxative drug to official senna which is presently being imported into Nigeria from the United Kingdom. (4)

2.6.2. Constipation:

Taking senna orally is effective for shortterm treatment of constipation. Senna is an FDA-approved nonprescription drug for adults and children ages 2 years and older. However, in children ages 3-15 years, mineral oil and a medication called lactulose might be more effective. In elderly people, senna plus psyllium is more effective than lactulose for treating ongoing constipation. (4)

2.6.3 Bowel preparation Before Colonoscopy:

Taking senna by mouth might be effective for bowel cleansing before colonoscopy; however, sodium phosphate or polyethylene glycol are more effective. (4)

2.6.4 Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding:

Senna is Possibly Safe during pregnancy and breast-feeding when used short-term. It is Possibly Unsafe when used long-term or in high doses. Long-term, frequent use, or use of high doses has been linked to serious side effects including laxative dependence and liver damage. Although small amounts of senna cross into breast milk, it doesn’t seem to be a problem for nursing babies. As long as the mother uses senna in recommended amounts, senna does not cause changes in the frequency or consistency of babies’ stool. (4)

2.6.5 Pharmacology of Cassia Senna:

 Senna leaves and pods have been shown to have laxative activity. It is usefull in habitual constipation. Pharmacological investigations show that sennosides A and B account for the entire activity of the senna leaves and pods.Leaves contain glycosides, sennoside A, B, C and D. Two naphthalene glycosides have been isolated from leaves and pods. The medicinal action of Senna can be attributed mainly to the anthraquinone glycosides, especially sennoside A and B. It appears that the aglycone portion is responsible for its action. The breakdown of the anthraquinone glycosides in the digestive tract can occur in one of two ways. The bowel flora can directly hydrolyze themin a similar way to that of free active aglycone. Alternatively, in the presence of bile and the sugar moiety, the free aglycone can be absorbed into the blood stream and secreted later into the colon. The final result is stimulation of the Auerbach plexus resulting in increased intestinal muscle contraction. In addition, its mucilage content decreases bodily absorption of fluid leading to an enhancement of the final laxative action

3. MATERIALS AND METHOD

The efficiency of synthetic drugs are becoming less popular due their adverse effect & contraindication. It is well established that indigenous plants are safe for use & less expensive. The present study deals with extraction, phytochemical investigation and anthelmintic activity of Andrographis paniculata

3.1 Collection of Plant

The plant Andrographis paniculata Family Acanthaceae leaves were collected from local market of Dhaniakhali, West Bengal, India in the month of September. The fresh leaves were taken and washed with pure water. 

 3.2 Drying and Pulverization:

All material was thoroughly washed with water and dried under shade for five to seven days until it became grindable. The dried materials were ground to half dust with the help of electric. About 200g of plant material was used for extraction.

3.3 Extraction Procedure:

The extraction is done by using Soxhlet’s apparatus. using aqua: ethanol as the solvent1:1 respectably.  This extract was further concentrated by distillation. The extract was stored in small container at 40C for further use.

3.4 Phytochemical screening

3.5 Evaluation of in-vivo Anthelminthic Activity

3.5.1 Collection of earthworms:

Indian adult earthworms (Pheretima posthuma) were used to study anthelminthic activity. They were collected from the water logged area of soil, Dhaniakhali, West Bengal. They were washed with normal water to remove all fecal matter. The earthworms of 5-8 cm in length and 0.2-0.3 cm in width were used for all experimental protocol.

 

 3.5.2 ANTHALMINTIC ASSAY

Suspensions of the sample was prepared by triturating the samples with 0.5% tween 80 and distilled water. The resulting aliquot were then stirred for 30min. The resulting suspensions were diluted to make concentrations of 400 mg, 200 mg and 100 mg per 40 ml. These suspensions of drug extract were used as the sample of which the anthelminthic activity to be measured. The suspension of distilled water and tween 80 (0.5%) was used as control and albendazole was taken as standard. The worms were divided into groups containing five earthworms in each group. 40 ml of samples, standard and control were poured in different petri plates.

 All the earthworms were washed in normal saline solution before using. Five worms (same type) in each were placed. Time for paralysis was noted when no movement observed except when the worms were shaken vigorously. Time for death of worms were recorded as certaining that the worms could not move when shaken vigorously or when dipped in warm water (50̊ C) for 15 mins. The mean paralyzing time and death time were calculated and summarized. 

4. RESULT AND DISCUSSION 

The phytochemical investigation of Cassia augistifolia shows that it has alkaloids, amino acids, flavenoids, saponins 

Table 2 Chemical test of Cassia ,augistifolia

#1: Control sample was observed for 12 hours but has shown no paralysis. ##2: The result was expressed as Mean ± SEM. statistical analysis was carried out using one way ANOVA followed by the student Test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.(n=3). * = p<0.01

Six earth warms of a similar size were placed in a petridishes of 3.5-4 inches diameter containing 40  ml of suspension of each test sample. The time required for paralysis and death of the worms were noted. From the results it is clear that all the extracts exhibited good anthelmintic activity.. Paralyzed time 65.66±0.88 min, min 79.66±0.88 and 90.0±0.57min  and75.66±0.66 death  time min, 187.0±0.81min and 200.66±1.85min for the extracts  at the concentrations 400mg, 200mg and 100mg respectively where as the standard  ( Albendazole) showed the paralysed time 64.66±1.69 min and 76.0±1.63min at 400mg dose.

Preliminary phytochemical screening has shown the presence of carbohydrate, protein, fat in  ethanolic extracts of plants. From the result shown in the Table:1 hydroalcohlic extract of  Cassia augistifolia exhibited  good  anthelmintic activity  which is   compable  the standard drug Albendazole. The predominant effect of Cassia augistifolia on worm is to cause a flaccid paralysis and results in expulsion of the worm by peristalsis.

 

5.Conclusion

India has rich dietary resources and a combination of different foodstuffs can provide adequate quantity of nutrients and medicinal values in sustainable manner. In this context, less familiar crops like Senna have a vital role to play as their economic value is beyond dispute. These crops generally are rich source of sennosides, glycosides and other nutrients and can provide a solution to the problem of malnutrition and other diseases to a great extent. It is considered one of the world’s most useful crop as almost every part of the senna can be used.(4)

5.Refference

1. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies Year: 2013, Volume: 1, Issue: 3 First page: (41) Last page: (47) ISSN: 2320-3862 Online Available at www.plantsjournal.com Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies Vol. 1 Issue. 3 2013 www.plantsjournal.com Page | 41 Senna – A Medical Miracle Plant D. Balasankar1 , K. Vanilarasu2 , P. Selva Preetha, S.Rajeswari M.Umadevi3 , Debjit Bhowmik4 1. Department of Vegetable Crops, India 2. Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, India 3. Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India 4. Karpagam University, Coimbatore, India 

2. Fabaceae of North America update, database (version 2011) 2011 Updated for ITIS by the Flora of North America Expertise Network, in connection with an update for USDA PLANTS (2007-2010) Senna augistifolia.

    3.Morphological and anatomical properties of the senna alexandrina mill. (cassia angustifolia 

         vahl.) elena săvulescu1, mihaela ioana georgescu1, vlad popa1, vasilica luchian1 university

        of agronomic sciences and veterinary medicine of bucharest, ărăşti blvd, district 1

         , bucharest, romania corresponding author email: 

     4. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies Year: 2013, Volume: 1, Issue: 3 First page: (41) Last 

page: (47) ISSN: 2320-3862 Online Available at www.plantsjournal.com Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies Vol. 1 Issue. 3 2013 www.plantsjournal.com Page | 41 Senna – A Medical Miracle Plant D. Balasankar1 , K. Vanilarasu2 , P. Selva Preetha, S.Rajeswari M.Umadevi3 , Debjit Bhowmik4 1. Department of Vegetable Crops, India 2. Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, India 3. Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India 4. Karpagam University,Coimbatore, India