Senna occidentalis

Scientific name: Senna occidentalis (L.) Link

Synonym: Cassia occidentalis L.

Botanical family: FABACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Dominican Republic:

brusca

Dominica:

café moucha

Honduras:

frijolillo

Guatemala:

frijolillo

Haiti:

terrier rouge

Other vernacular names

Dominica:

coffee, café mocha
Coffee, café moucha
Kafe moucha

Honduras:

Frijolillo

Nicaragua:

Pico de pajaro
Sin sin

Haiti:

Pwa piant
Pwa piyant

Barbados:

Senna

Geographical distribution

Pantropical and subtropical.

Botanical description

Herbaceous up to 2 m in height, finely strigulose. Leaves alternate, pinnate, spirally arranged; leaflets in 3 to 6 pairs, ovate to lanceolate, acute to acuminate; petiole with gland at base, sessile, globose or conical; stipules linear-lanceolate to triangular, acuminate, deciduous. Axillary racemes with yellow flowers; sepals oblong, obtuse; petals ovate or elliptic. Linear, obtuse, mucronate, erect, more or less arched pod with numerous ovoid seeds.

Voucher(s)

Jiménez,29&116,JBSD

Lagos-Witte,16,HPMHV

Girón,249,CFEH

Rouzier,225,SOE

poor blood quality

leaf, juice, rubbed on skin¹

stomach pain

root and leaf, mashed, decoction, orally³

sore throat

root and leaf, chewed⁵

injury, sore

seed, mashed, applied locally as cataplasm⁴

fever

leaf and root, decoction, applied locally as cataplasm³

tinea

seed, mashed, applied locally as cataplasm⁴

headhache

leaf, cataplasm, applied on forehead²

body ache

seed, mashed, bath³

fever

leaf, decoctioon, orally¹

jaundice

leaf, decoction, orally²

body ache

leaf, decoction, orally³

skin conditions

leaf, crushed, applied locally¹

stomach pain

leaf, infusion, orally⁴

For skin conditions, sores or tinea:

clean the wound with boiled water and soap. Wash 1 leaf adequately before removing the leaflets from it, crush them and apply locally in sufficient quantities to cover the affected area. Cover with a dressing or clean cloth and change 3-4 times a day.

For body aches, fever or jaundice:

prepare a decoction with 30 grams of leaves in 4 cups (1 litre) of water, boil for 5 minutes in a covered vessel. Cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup 3 times a day³⁶.

For stomach pain: prepare a decoction or infusion. For the decoction, boil for 10 minutes in a covered vessel with 15 grams of fresh leaves and 15 grams of roots in 4 cups (1 litre) of water. For the infusion, add 4 cups (1 litre) of boiling water to 30 grams of leaves and cover. Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup 3 times a day.

For headaches:

wash 1-2 leaves adequately, squeeze lightly and apply as a poultice on the forehead or head. Cover with a bandage or a handkerchief. Repeat 4 times a day.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use of the leaves for skin conditions, stomach pain, fever, jaundice and poor blood quality, and of the seeds for sores and tinea is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys, the toxicity studies and the scientific information published.

Use of the leaves for headaches, body pain and sore throats is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in TRAMIL surveys and toxicity studies.

If deterioration is observed in the patient and the headache of fever persist for more than 2 days, the stomach pain, sore throat or jaundice for more than 3 days, or the skin condition, sores, tinea for more than 5 days, seek medical attention.

Due to the health risk of jaundice, an initial medical assessment is recommended. The use of this resource must be considered complementary to medical treatment, unless contraindicated.

All topical application must follow strict hygiene measures that prevent contamination or additional infection.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 3 years.

TRAMIL Works^26-²⁷

The freeze-dried aqueous extracts (decoction) from fresh leaves and roots (2 g/kg/day) orally in NGP mice (5 males and 5 females) for 5 days per week for 35 days, and an additional observation period of 7 days, showed no mortality or obvious signs of toxicity.

TRAMIL Work²⁸

The freeze-dried juice from 500 g of leaves on the depilated skin of 14 healthy male New Zealand albino rabbits (2-3 kg) and 16 white Hartley guinea pigs of both sexes (450-500 g), at doses of

0.5 ml and 0.75 ml with sterile gauze patches, evaluated 24 and 72 hours after application, showed a primary irritation index < 5; histopathological analysis with a biopsy showed no evidence of skin irritation.

TRAMIL Work²⁹

The aqueous leaf extract (600 mg/ml) obtained by liquidising fresh material (1 ml/day/5 days) topically on a 10 x 5 cm area of skin injured with scalpel cuts on the backs of 3 New Zealand rabbits, according to protocol OECD404. The control was carried out with distilled and deionised water to the same rabbit on the contralateral side. They had a 12-day observation period. No symptoms, erythema or oedema were present during the test or subsequent observation.

TRAMIL Works^30-31

The aqueous extracts from fresh roots (13.07 mg/ml) and from fresh seeds (30.5 mg/ml), obtained by liquidising the fresh material, were administered separately (100 µl/day/5 days) topically on the eyelids of 3 New Zealand rabbits, according to the OECD405 protocol. The control was carried out with distilled and deionised water in the same rabbit in the other eye, under the same conditions. There was a 12-day observation period of the eyelid. There were no abnormal symptoms during the test or subsequent observation.

The ethanolic extract (95%) from dried leaves (100 mg/kg) intraperitoneally in mice showed no general toxicity²³.

The hydroalcoholic extract (50%) from dried leaves (1 g/kg), intraperitoneally in mice, did not show general toxicity²⁴.

The leaves administered orally in rabbits showed cardiotoxic activity³².

The food rations of 70 pigs, contaminated at variable doses by the seed, caused ataxia and other neuromuscular dysfunctions³³.

The fresh pod orally in pigs showed toxic activity with signs of muscle degeneration, liver and kidney toxicity³⁴.

The fresh pod orally at 21.5% of the diet for 10 days in cattle caused toxic multiphase and multi-focal degenerative myopathy³⁵.

There is no information available documenting the safety of use in children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The leaf contains anthraquinones: chrysophanic acid, 1-1’bis- (4,4’,5,5’tetrahydroxy, 2,2’dimethyl) anthraquinone⁶, emodin, physcion and its glycosides⁷, dianthrone physcion⁸; flavonoids: vitexin⁸, matteucinol and jaceidin rhamnosides⁹; the alkanes present in the leaf wax have been studied¹⁰.

The roots contain flavonoids: quercetin¹¹; anthraquinones: aloe- emodin⁷, chrysazin¹¹, chrysophanic acid¹², helminthosporine, islandicin, physcion, xanthorin¹³, rhein⁸; xanthones: pinselin, 1,7-dihydroxy-3-methyl xanthone¹²; sterols: campesterol, β-sitosterol¹⁴, stigmasterol¹³.

TRAMIL Work¹⁵

The freeze-dried aqueous extract (decoction), from fresh roots (single dose of 2 g/kg) orally to NGP mice (5 males and 5 females), increased the intestinal transit with a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05). Average control group distance = 50.99%

± 3.81%. Average treatment group distance = 66.24% ± 2.53%.

The decoction of the dried leaves, roots and seeds in vitro (1 ml/plate), inhibited Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum¹⁶.

The hydroalcoholic leaf extract (50%) in vitro was active against Trichophyton rubrum (MIC = 50 µg/ml), but not against Epidermophyton floccosum or Microsporum gypseum¹⁶.

The hydroalcoholic leaf extract (50%) in vitro against Neisseria gonorrhoea was inactive at a concentration of 50 µl/disc¹⁷.

The aqueous extract from dried roots at a concentration of 6% demonstrated an effect in vitro against Candida albicans in agar plate¹⁸.

The methanolic extracts from the dried leaves and seeds (2 mg/ml) in vitro were inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptobacillus spp, Salmonella spp, Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Neisseria spp¹⁹.

The ethanolic extract (95%) from dried leaves demonstrated insecticide activity at a concentration of 50 µg against Rhodnius neglectus²⁰.

The ethanolic extract in vitro on Plasmodium falciparum produced an inhibition of 60%. The dichloromethane leaf extract (6 mg/ml) in vitro on Plasmodium falciparum showed antiprotozoal activity by inhibiting growth by 81.7%²¹.

The leaf extract in vivo, with the experimental method of rat leg oedema induced by carrageenan and cotton granuloma (1- 2 g/kg), showed an anti-inflammatory effect, a mechanism mediated by the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis²².

The ethanolic extract (95%) from dried leaves (100 mg/kg/5 days) orally in male rats showed anti-hepatotoxic activity²³.

The hydroalcoholic extract (50%) from dried leaves (500 mg/kg) orally in rats showed anti-hepatotoxic activity²⁴.

The ethanolic extract (95%) from leaves and stems (33 ml/l) showed a relaxant effect on smooth muscle with isolated guinea pig ileum and a spasmogenic effect on isolated rabbit duodenum²⁵.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

GERMOSEN-ROBINEAU L, GERONIMO M, AMPARO C, 1984

Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

CHARLES C, 1988

TRAMIL survey. Movement for Cultural Awareness MCA, Roseau, Dominica.

LAGOS-WITTE S, 1988-89, 1996

Encuesta TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Histología Vegetal y Etnobotánica, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras UNAH, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

GIRON L, 1988

Encuesta TRAMIL (Costa atlántica). Centro Mesoamericano de Tecnología CEMAT, Guatemala, Guatemala.

WENIGER B, ROUZIER M, 1986

Enquête TRAMIL. Service Oecuménique d’Entraide SOE, Port au Prince, Haïti.

TIWARI RD, SINGH J, 1977

Anthraquinone pigments from Cassia occidentalis. Planta Med Suppl 32(4):375-377.

RAI PP, SHOK M, 1983

Anthraquinone glycosides from plant parts of Cassia occidentalis. Indian J Pharm Sci 45(2):87-88.

ANTON R, DUQUENOIS P, 1968

Contribution à l’étude chimique du Cassia occidentalis L. Annales Pharmaceutiques Françaises 26(2):673-680.

TIWARI RD, SINGH J, 1977

Flavonoids from the leaves of Cassia occidentalis. Phytochemistry 16(7):1107-1108.

MAJUMDAR SG, BASAK B, LASKAR S, 1987

Surface hydrocarbons from the leaves of some Cassia species. J Indian Chem Soc 64(4):259-260.

ALVES AC, 1964

Pharmacological study of the root of Cassia occidentalis. An Fac Farm Porto 24:65- 119.

WADER GR, KUDAV NA, 1987

Chemical investigation of Cassia occidentalis Linn. with special reference to isolation of xanthones from Cassia spp. Indian J of Chemisitry 26(B7):703.

KUDAV NA, KULKARNI A,B 1974

Chemical investigation on Cassia occidentalis. II. Isolation of islandicin, helminthosporine, xanthonin and NMR spectral studies of cassiollin and its derivatives. Indian J Chem 12:1042-1044.

LAL-JAWAHAR, GUPTA-PURAN-CHANDRA, 1973

Physcion and phytosterol from the roots of Cassia occidentalis. Phytochemistry 12(5):1186.

GARCIA GM, COTO MT, GONZALEZ CS, OCAMPO R, PAZOS L, 2001

Tránsito intestinal en ratones, con extracto acuoso de raíz fresca de Senna occidentalis. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

CACERES A, LOPEZ BR, GIRON MA, LOGEMANN H, 1991

Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatophytic infections. 1. Screening for antimycotic activity of 44 plant extracts. J Ethnopharmacol 31(3):263- 276.

CACERES A, MENENDEZ H, MENDEZ E, COHOBON E, SAMAYAO BE, JAUREGUI E, PERALTA E, CARRILLO G, 1995

Antigonorrhoeal activity of plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. J Ethnopharmacol 48(2):85-88.

PEREZ C, SUAREZ C, 1997

Antifungal activity of plant extracts against Candida albicans. Amer J Chinese Med 25(2):181-184.

HUSSAIN HS, DEENI YY, 1991

Plants in Kano ethomedicine; screening for antimicrobial activity and alkaloids. Int J Pharmacog 29(1):51-56.

SCHMEDA-HIRSCHMANN G, ROJAS DE ARIAS A, 1992

A screening method for natural products on triatomine bugs. Phytother Res 6(2):68-73.

TONA L, NGIMBI NP, TSAKALA M, MESIA K, CIMANGA K, ASPERS S, DE BRUYNE T, PIETERS L, TOTTE J, VLIETINCK AJ, 1999

Antimalarial activity of 20 crude extracts from nine African medicinal plants used in Kinshasa, Congo. J Ethnopharmacol 68(1/3):193-203.

SADIQUE J, CHANDRA T, THENMOZHI V, ELANGO V, 1987

Biochemical modes of action of Cassia occidentalis and Cardiospermum halicacabum in inflammation. J Ethnopharmacol 19(2):201-212.

SARAF S, DIXIT VK, TRIPATHI SC, PATNAIK GK, 1994

Antihepatotoxic activity of Cassia occidentalis. Int J Pharmacog 32(2):178-183.

JAFRI MA, JALIS SUBHANI M, JAVED K, SINGH S, 1999

Hepatoprotective activity of leaves of Cassia occidentalis against paracetamol and ethyl alcohol intoxication in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 66(3):355-361.

FENG PC, HAYNES LJ, MAGNUS KE, PLIMMER JR, SHERRAT HS, 1962

Pharmacological screening of some West Indian medicinal plants. J Pharm Pharmacol 14:556-561.

GARCIA GM, COTO MT, GONZALEZ CS, PAZOS L, 1998

Toxicidad sub-crónica en ratones, del extracto acuoso de hojas frescas de Senna occidentalis. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

GARCIA GM, COTO MT, GONZALEZ CS, PAZOS L, 1998

Toxicidad sub-crónica en ratones, del extracto acuoso de raíz fresca de Senna occidentalis. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

GONZALEZ A, ALFONSO H, 1990

Evaluación de la toxicidad dérmica de Momordica charantia L. y Cassia occidentalis L. en conejo y cobayo. Informe TRAMIL. Centro Nacional de Salud Animal, La Habana, Cuba.

PAZOS L, COTO T, GONZALEZ S, 2003

Estudio de irritabilidad dérmica, en piel lesionada de conejo, de hoja fresca de Senna occidentalis. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

PAZOS L, COTO T, GONZALEZ S, 2003

Irritabilidad de la mucosa en conejo, de raíz fresca de Senna occidentalis. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

PAZOS L, COTO T, GONZALEZ S, 2003

Irritabilidad de la mucosa en conejo, de semillas frescas de Senna occidentalis. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

O’HARA P, PIERCE K, 1974

A toxic cardiomyopathy caused by Cassia occidentalis. II Biochemical studies in poisoned rabbits. Vet Pathol 11(2):110-124.

COLVIN BM, HARRISON LR, SANGSTER LT, GOSSER HS, 1986

Cassia occidentalis toxicosis in growing pigs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 189(4):423-426.

MARTINS E, MARTINS VM, RIET-CORREA F, SONCINI RA, PARABONI SV, 1986

Intoxicação por Cassia occidentalis (Leguminosae) em suínos. Pesq Vet Bras 6(2):35-38.

BARTH AT, KOMMERS GO, SALLES MS, WOUTERS F, DE BARROS CS, 1994

Coffee senna (Senna occidentalis) poisoning in cattle in Brazil. Vet Hum Toxicol 36(6):541-545.

ALBORNOZ A, 1993

Medicina Tradicional Herbaria. Caracas, Venezuela: Editorial Instituto Farmacoterápico Latino S.A. p174.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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Senna occidentalis

Vernacular names

Dominican Republic:

Dominica:

Honduras:

Guatemala:

Haiti:

Dominica:

Honduras:

Nicaragua:

Haiti:

Barbados:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

Disclaimer