SEENA - Complete Notes

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1. BASIC IDENTIFICATION

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2. COLLECTION & CULTIVATION

Cultivation (Common to Both)

• Senna is a shrub ~1 meter in height
• Propagated by sowing seeds - broadcasting method
• Seeds are abraded (scarped) by pounding with sand in mortar pestle before sowing to improve germination
• Seed requirement: 15-25 kg per hectare
• Soil: Red and loamy, pH 4.5-7.5
• Climate: Dry environment
• Land is ploughed 2-3 times + harrowing + planking before sowing
• Sowing season: February to March
• Irrigation: 3-4 times (light irrigation preferred; heavy irrigation/waterlogging avoided)
• Being a leguminous plant, nitrogenous fertilizers are still beneficial due to lack of root nodules

Collection

• Senna is a multi-harvest crop
• When lower plant height equals flowering stalk height, it is cut (to encourage vegetative/dense leaf growth)
• Harvesting of leaves done in three stages, starting 2-3 months after sowing
• 1st plucking: when leaflets are thick, full-grown, greenish
• 2nd plucking: one month after 1st
• 3rd plucking: 4-6 weeks after 2nd
• Bluish green-colored leaves and golden yellow-colored immature pods are collected (maximum sennoside content)

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3. POST-COLLECTION PROCESSING

India Production Stats

• 25,000 hectares under senna cultivation in India
• Produces ~22,500 tonnes of leaves and 7,500 tonnes of fruit per annum
• 1,200 kg of leaves and pods from 1 hectare irrigated land; 700 kg from rain-fed land
• Drug potency is maintained for at least 5 years if protected from light

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4. MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

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5. MICROSCOPICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Lamina: Isobilateral nature

• Upper Epidermis: Single layered, polygonal, straight, anticlerical walls; few cells contain mucilage; covered with cuticle
• Mesophyll:
  • Upper palisade: Single layered, elongated, compactly arranged, narrow, thin-walled parenchyma; continues over midrib region
  • Spongy parenchyma: Thin-walled, loosely arranged, large intracellular spaces; Spheraphides present
  • Lower palisade: Only in lamina, loosely arranged, wavy walls; cells smaller than upper palisade
• Lower Epidermis: Similar to upper epidermis
• Trichomes: Conical, unicellular, thick-walled, covering trichome
• Stomata: Paracytic type (Rubiaceous)

Midrib

• Palisade parenchyma: Single layer
• Crystal sheath: Parenchymatous layer containing calcium oxalate prism - present at dorsal and ventral side
• Sclerenchymatous sheath: Lignified, thick-walled cells; covers the vascular bundle
• Vascular bundle:
  • Xylem: Lignified cells - at ventral surface
  • Phloem: Non-lignified cells - at dorsal surface
• Collenchyma: Multilayered, thick-walled parenchyma with cellulose - only at ventral surface

Quantitative Microscopy

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6. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Main Active Constituents

• Sennoside A and Sennoside B (not less than 2.5%) - two anthraquinone glycosides; stereoisomers; purgative property 40-60%
  • Dimeric glycosides with Rhein dianthrones as aglycone
  • Sennoside B aglycone is in meso form; Sennoside A is dextrorotatory
  • Differ in the linkage of glucose to aglycone
  • Sugar part: transporting function + protective action (prevents oxidation of aglycone)

Other Constituents

• Rhein and Emodin
• Sennoside C and D
• Rhein-8-glucoside
• Aloe-emodin, 8-glucoside
• Anthrone di-glucoside
• Kaempferol, Isohamnetin
• Phytosterol, Mucilage, Resin
• Myricyl alcohol, Salicylic acid
• Chrysophanic acid
• Calcium oxalate
• Two naphthalene glycosides: Tirunelveli glycoside and 6-hydroxy musizin glycoside

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7. STANDARDS (IP)

• Foreign organic matter: not more than 2.0%
• Total ash: not more than 12%
• Acid insoluble ash: not more than 2.0%
• Moisture: not more than 10%
• Water-soluble extractive: not more than 30%
• Cadmium: not more than 0.3 ppm

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8. CHEMICAL TESTS

• Bontrager's Test: Sample + dilute H₂SO₄ → filter → add benzene/ether/chloroform → shake → separate organic layer → add ammonia slowly → ammoniacal layer shows pink to red colour (confirms anthraquinone glycosides)

Assay Methods

• Chemical: Spectrophotometric / Spectro-colorimetric and HPLC
• Biological: In-vivo studies

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9. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION & USES

• Purgative in perpetual constipation
• Anthraquinone glycosides absorbed in intestinal tract → aglycone part separated → excreted in colon → irritates and stimulates colon → increased colonic movements
• Increased peristalsis reduces water absorption → soft and bulky faeces
• Gripping effect - due to resin/emodin content; counteracted by giving drug with carminatives
• Drug given parenterally is secreted in colon for therapeutic action

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10. ADULTERANTS & SUBSTITUTES (Both Senna)

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KEY DIFFERENCES AT A GLANCE: Alexandrian vs Indian Senna

SEENA - Complete Notes

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1. SYNONYMS & BIOLOGICAL SOURCE

• Synonyms: Folia sennae Alexandrina, Cassia senna, Egyptian senna, Senna leaf, Sennae folium, Sena-ki-Patti, Tinneveley senna
• Biological source: Dried leaflets of Cassia acutifolia Delile OR Cassia angustifolia / Cassia senna Vahl
• Family: Leguminosae

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2. CULTIVATION

• Senna plant is a shrub ~1 meter in height
• Propagated by sowing seeds - broadcasting method
• Seeds are abraded (scarped) by pounding with sand in mortar pestle before sowing (for earlier germination)
• Seed requirement: 15-25 kg per hectare
• Soil: Red and loamy, pH 4.5-7.5
• Climate: Dry environment
• Land ploughed 2-3 times + harrowing + planking before sowing (for uniform germination and better crop)
• Sowing season: February to March
• Irrigation: 3-4 times sufficient; light irrigation preferred
• Heavy irrigation, waterlogging and very low temperature - avoided
• Leguminous plant but nitrogenous fertilizers still beneficial due to lack of root nodules

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3. COLLECTION

• Senna is a multi-harvest crop
• When height of lower plant becomes equal to flowering stalks, it is cut - to encourage vegetative growth (dense leaf growth)
• Harvesting starts 2-3 months after sowing, done in three stages:
  • 1st plucking - when leaflets are thick, full-grown, greenish
  • 2nd plucking - one month after 1st
  • 3rd plucking - 4-6 weeks after 2nd
• Bluish green colored leaves and golden yellow colored immature pods are collected (maximum sennoside content present at this stage)

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4. POST-COLLECTION PROCESSING

• Leaves dried by spreading in thin layers for 7-10 days under shade
• Dried leaves should be yellowish green in colour
• After drying, leaves are tossed to separate pods
• Packed into bales with pressure
• Pressing under hydraulic press causes transverse lines on leaves

• Leaves dried in the sun (weight decreases due to loss of moisture, occupy less space)
• Dried material subjected to coarse sieving - pods and large stalks separated
• Pods manually plucked out
• Leaves tossed on large shallow tray - entire and broken leaves separated
• Subjected to sifting - separated as mixed leaves, small fragments, very small leaflets
• Entire leaves handpicked and packed in mats or bales WITHOUT pressing

• 25,000 hectares under senna cultivation
• ~22,500 tonnes of leaves + 7,500 tonnes of fruit per annum
• 1,200 kg leaves and pods per hectare (irrigated); 700 kg (rain-fed)
• Drug potency maintained for at least 5 years if protected from light

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5. MICROSCOPICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Upper Epidermis: Single layered, polygonal, straight, anticlerical walls; few cells contain mucilage; covered with cuticle
• Upper Palisade: Single layered, elongated, compactly arranged, narrow, thin-walled parenchyma; continued over midrib region
• Spongy Parenchyma: Thin-walled, loosely arranged, large intracellular spaces; Spheraphides present
• Lower Palisade: Only in lamina; loosely arranged, wavy walls; cells smaller than upper palisade
• Lower Epidermis: Similar to upper epidermis
• Trichomes: Conical, unicellular, thick-walled, covering trichome
• Stomata: Paracytic type (Rubiaceous)

• Palisade parenchyma: Single layer
• Crystal sheath: Parenchymatous layer containing calcium oxalate prism - present at dorsal and ventral side
• Sclerenchymatous sheath: Lignified, thick-walled cells; covers vascular bundle
• Vascular Bundle:
  • Xylem: Lignified cells - ventral surface
  • Phloem: Non-lignified cells - dorsal surface
• Collenchyma: Multilayered, thick-walled parenchyma with cellulose - only at ventral surface

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6. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

• Sennoside A and Sennoside B (not less than 2.5%) - stereoisomers of each other; purgative property 40-60%
• Dimeric glycosides with Rhein dianthrones as aglycone
• Sennoside B aglycone: meso form | Sennoside A: dextrorotatory
• Differ in linkage of glucose to aglycone fraction
• Sugar part: transporting function for aglycone up to large intestine + protective action (prevents oxidation of aglycone to less active anthraquinone)

• Rhein and Emodin
• Sennoside C and D
• Rhein-8-glucoside
• Aloe-emodin, 8-glucoside
• Anthrone di-glucoside
• Kaempferol, Isohamnetin
• Phytosterol, Mucilage, Resin
• Myricyl alcohol, Salicylic acid, Chrysophanic acid
• Calcium oxalate
• Two naphthalene glycosides: Tirunelveli glycoside and 6-hydroxy musizin glycoside

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7. STANDARDS (IP)

• Foreign organic matter: not more than 2.0%
• Total ash: not more than 12%
• Acid insoluble ash: not more than 2.0%
• Moisture: not more than 10%
• Water-soluble extractive: not more than 30%
• Cadmium: not more than 0.3 ppm

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8. CHEMICAL TEST

• Sample + dilute H₂SO₄ → filter → add benzene / ether / chloroform → shake well
• Organic layer separated → ammonia added slowly
• Ammoniacal layer shows pink to red colour = confirms anthraquinone glycosides

• Chemical method: Spectrophotometric / Spectro-colorimetric and HPLC
• Biological method: In-vivo studies

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9. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION & USES

• Purgative in perpetual constipation
• Anthraquinone glycosides absorbed in intestinal tract → aglycone separated → excreted in colon → irritates and stimulates colon → increased colonic movements (local action)
• Increased peristalsis reduces water absorption → soft and bulky faeces
• Gripping effect - due to resin / emodin content → counteracted by giving drug with carminatives
• Drug given by parenteral mode is secreted in colon → causes therapeutic action

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10. ADULTERANTS & SUBSTITUTES

• Leaves obovate in shape with tapering apex
• Papillose cells in lower epidermis
• Only ~1% anthraquinone glycosides

• Absence of anthraquinone glycosides
• Leaflets show long hair
• Leaves boiled with chloral hydrate solution show crimson colour

• Leaves brownish-green in colour
• More elongated and narrower in shape

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DIFFERENCES: Alexandrian Senna vs Indian Senna

A. Basic Identity

B. Post-Collection Processing

C. Morphological Characters

D. Quantitative Microscopy

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Quick Memory Tip: Indian Senna = Firm, Yellowish, Shade-dried, Pressed (transverse line present), Higher stomatal index | Alexandrian Senna = Brittle, Greyish, Sun-dried, No pressing, Higher vein-islet and palisade ratio