Alexandrian Senna: Applications, Treatments, Health Benefits

Alexandrian senna (Senna alexandrina) belongs to the legume family and can be found in Arabia and Africa, respectively. In the 19th century, the leaves of the plant were used as a laxative, but its active ingredients were also injected into the connective tissue under the skin.

Occurrence and cultivation of Alexandrian senna.

The plant is found mainly in southern Algeria, Egypt, and northern and tropical Africa. Alexandrian senna is a shrub and reaches a height of 0.5 to 1.5 meters. The leaves are smooth and pinnate, and its flowers are arranged in racemose inflorescences and are zygomorphic. The petals have a yellow color. In addition, Alexandrian senna bears brown fruits that grow up to four centimeters long. The plant is found mainly in southern Algeria, Egypt, and northern and tropical Africa. It is also found in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Other native areas are in eastern Pakistan, southern India, and southwestern Jordan. In the past, the plant was brought from the Nile to Alexandria, from where it was further shipped to Europe. For this reason it is also called Alexandrian Senna. In the 19th century, Egypt even had a monopoly with the trade of senna. Its medicinal properties were first documented in the 8th century, and until the Middle Ages it was mainly used for stomach diseases, leprosy and eye diseases, respectively. From the 16th century it was then also used as a laxative. Paracelus, for example, used the leaves of the plant together with wormwood and leeks as a laxative, and the Count of Saint German also propagated the Alexandrian senna as a remedy. In Burkina Faso, medicine men use the plant for stomach ailments. For this purpose, the root of the senna is crushed and then mixed with honey. Today, mainly the dried pods as well as the dried leaves are used, with the drugs originating mainly from India and Sudan, respectively.

Effect and application

Alexandrian senna contains antraquinones, sennosides as well as mucilages. The fruits of the plant also contain hydroxyanthracenoycosides. Sennosides represent natural prodrugs whose betaglycosidic bond is not broken down by digestive enzymes. Therefore, the antraquinone glycosides reach the colon or rectum unchanged. With the help of beta-glycosidases, aglycones are then released, which subsequently oxidize to anthrones. Anthrones increase the secretion of fluid, stimulate intestinal peristalsis and inhibit fluid absorption. As a result, the intestinal contents can be enlarged and the defecation reflex can be triggered. In addition, there is an increase in chloride release so that more electrolytes (magnesium, potassium) and water enter the intestine. However, this also deprives the body of nutrients, which is why Senna should only be used for a short period of time. Alexandrian senna is mainly used for constipation, although the fruit drug has a milder effect here. In addition, the plant can be used for bowel evacuation before examinations or in cases of anal fissures or hemorrhoids, respectively, to soften the stool again. Senna is contraindicated in cases of intestinal obstruction, during pregnancy and in children under twelve years of age. Since anthracene derivatives may pass into breast milk, use during lactation is not recommended. In addition, Senna should not be taken in cases of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or appendicitis, or in cases of severe fluid deficiency. A physician should also be consulted if saluretics, licorice root, or cortisone or cortisone-like substances are taken. To prevent possible potassium deficiency, Senna should not be used for more than one to two weeks. In addition, it is not advisable to take the plant in combination with cardiac glycosides, as this will result in a reinforcing effect. Overdoses may cause vomiting, abdominal pain, damage to the intestinal nerves, as well as protein in the urine.

Health significance, treatment, and prevention.

The leaves and fruits of senna are used to soften stool so that it can be emptied gently.Over a period of one to two weeks, it is also suitable as a laxative for constipation or for gentle evacuation in cases of hemorrhoids, anal fissures or after operations. The leaves and fruits of the plant are also extremely popular in self-medication and are a component of many commercially available preparations. The active substances are also very often supplied in the form of tea. For this, the drug is poured over with hot water and must infuse for ten to twenty minutes before being poured off. In addition, it is possible to prepare a cold extract. In this case, the leaves are prepared with cold water and must infuse for twelve hours. Then they are strained and the tea is warmed up. If the effect is too strong, only half or three quarters of a cup of the tea should be drunk. If the fruits of the plant are used, it is possible to shorten the steeping, because the active substances from the fruits are released more quickly. Moreover, for a tea, Alexandrian senna can be combined with caraway or sloth bark. When the remedy begins to take effect, abdominal cramps may occur and in some cases the urine is also discolored reddish brown. If Senna is taken for a long period of time, constipation occurs. In addition, the electrolyte and water balance may become unbalanced, which may subsequently lead to cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, the intestinal mucosa may turn dark due to pigment deposits. However, this discoloration is usually harmless and regresses when the Senna preparation is no longer taken.