Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
time dependently reduced rat paw edema induced by subplantar injections of fresh egg albumin.
However, the methanolic extract of the plant produced relatively greater and more pronounced
anti-inflammatory effect than its aqueous extract counterpart in the experimental animal model
used. The two extracts of
S. birrea
stem bark were found to be markedly less potent than ASA as
an anti-inflammatory agent.
963
Various extracts (crude decoction, aqueous, ethanolic, and chloroformic extracts) showed
significant antagonistic effect on caffeine-induced calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Crude decoction was the most active, followed by ethanolic, aqueous, and chloroformic extracts
in a dose-dependent manner.
964
Other activities found with
Sclerocarya
extracts include
in vitro
inhibition of
Helicobacter pylori,
antioxidant properties, and use for the management of elevated
blood pressure.
SENNA ALEXANDRINA
Botanical Name —
Senna alexandrina
Mill.
Synonyms —
Cassia acutifolia
Del.,
Cassia senna
L.,
C.
lanceolata, C.
lentiva
Brisch.
Family —
Leguminosae
African Names —
Arabic: sana, senamiki, sena; Hausa: i\lesko, rinji, filaskon maka; Peul:
falajin, sanjerehi; Swahili: msahala
Description —
It is a subshrub up to 1 m tall with erect stalks but irregular branches. The leaves
are paripinnate, alternate, with 4 or 5 pairs of leaflets, and yellow flowers that blossom in axillary
bunches. The fruits, known as Alexandrian senna pods, occur as legumes; the entire fruit is com-
pressed laterally, almost flat, broadly oblong or subreniform, thin and papery, 3 to 4 mm wide, and
attached to ventral suture by thin funicles. The seeds have a reticulated whitish-green surface and a
short raised ridge on each of the flat sides.
436
Habitat and Distribution —
The plant occurs in the semidesert and sudano-sahelian zones of
Africa. It grows in Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, and Sudan.
Cassia
is also found in the drier
fringe forests.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The plant is employed in North Africa as a purgative and as an ingre-
dient in various fever remedies. Duke
378
reported that the plant has a milder laxative action than
Tinnevelly senna, and that it has griping effects. The plant has also been used for ascites and dys-
pepsia. The pulverized leaves are applied to wounds and burns.
367
Constituents —
The major constituents of
Cassia
species are anthrones and anthraquinones,
amino acids, and proteins. The pods yield 2-5% anthraquinone glycosides, known as sennosides.
They also contain kaempferol, chrysophanol, isorhamnetin, rhein, sennacrol, and cathartic acid.
The leaves contain free anthraquinones, and the seeds do not contain anthraquinones.
Pharmacological Studies —
The fruits, leaves, and extracts of these parts of the plant, as well
as the purified sennosides, are used in clinical medicine as a laxative, in various dosage forms.
SENNA ALEXANDRINA
—
VarIEtY
tINNEVELLEY
Botanical Name —
Senna alexandrina
Mill.
Synonyms —
Cassia angustifolia
Vali., l i.,
C.
lanceolata
Royle,
C.
elongata
Lam.
Family —
Leguminosae
Common Names —
Tinnevelly senna, Mecca senna, Indian senna
