Senna

Authors:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

Last updated on: 18.10.2021

Synonym(s)

cassia angustafolia; cassia senna

Requires free registration (medical professionals only)

Please login to access all articles, images, and functions.

Our content is available exclusively to medical professionals. If you have already registered, please login. If you haven't, you can register for free (medical professionals only).

Requires free registration (medical professionals only)

Please complete your registration to access all articles and images.

To gain access, you must complete your registration. You either haven't confirmed your e-mail address or we still need proof that you are a member of the medical profession.

Finish your registration now

DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Senna is a plant from the genus of the papilionaceous plants and belongs to the family Fabaceae and is mainly distributed in the tropics and subtropics.

Senna has more than 260 species, which grow as shrubs, bushes or small trees up to 2m high. However, only two species are used medicinally: the Alexandrian senna (Senna alexandrina) and the Tinnevelley senna (also Indian senna, S. angustifolia). Two to four cm long, flat and brown legumes develop as fruits.

Phytotherapeutically, both the dried leaves (Senna folium), as well as the dried pods of the fruits (Sennae fructus) are used.

Senna angustifolia (also Cassia angustifolia Vahl) is the parent plant of Senna folium, the senna leaves.

Authors

Last updated on: 18.10.2021

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles