Cassia angustifolia or senna is a herb which was first used by Arabian physician, Mesue and Serapion. It is also known as Rajavriksha, American senna, Fan xia ye and locust plant. Its botanical name is Cassia Angustifolia. Traditionally it has been used in love sachets. Plants which are grown in different parts of India also contain sennoside B in pods and leaves and also vary in chromosome morphology. The pods and leaves of the plant contain laxative sennoside which has commercial importance.
Cassia AngustifoliaThe origin of cassia senna is thought to be tropical Africa as it is cultivated in various countries across the African continent like Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria etc. It is also native to Indian subcontinent as it is grown in India and Pakistan.
The leaf of the plant contains sennosides A and B which are based on the Aglycone Sennidin A and B, senoside C and D which are the glycosides of heterodianthrones and rhein. Other includes rhein anthrone, palmdin A and aloe emodin glycosides, some ptent and some free anthraquinones, novel compounds of undetermined structure. Senna usually has more sennosides. The fruit of the plant contains a related glycoside sennoside A1 and sennosides A & B. It has naphthalene glycoside , 6 hydroxymusizin glycoside and tinnevellin glycoside.Cassia Angustifolia
The anthraquinone glycosides can be attributed to the medical action of senna especially sennoside A and B. It can be seen that its action are controlled by the presence of the aglycone portion. There is a breakdown of the anthraquinone glycosides inside the digestive tract which happens in one of the 2 ways. The bowel flora directly hydrolyzes themin in a same way like free ative aglycone. They can be absorbed alternately in the presence of bile & the sugar moiety. It gets absorbed in the blood and later goes into the colon. The stimulation of auerbach plexus is the final result which increases intestinal muscle contraction. The mucilage content decreases bodily absorption of the fluid which leads to an increase of the last laxative action in the body.
Cassia AngustifoliaRemedies are purgative, anthchintic, antipyretic, laxative, cathartic, diuretic and vermifuge. Senna is considered to be a very powerful cathartic which is used in the treatment of the patients of constipation as it stimulates the intestinal peristalsis.
The dosage can be taken in the form of root infusion with 2 to 20 ml and powder 1 to 3 gm.
I am a cultivator of various herbal crops. I want to start cassia angustifolia cultivation. I welcome suggestions regarding cultivation and marketing of the product. I also would like to know about other herbal crops too.