Common Name:

Indian Senna ( Eng.)

Sanskrit Name:

Swarnapatri

Hemapatri

Kalyani

Sanay

Lt. Name:

Cassia angustifolia – Leguminosae

Bio energetics:

Rasa (Taste) – Katu, (Pungent); Tikta (Bitter); Kashaya (Astringent); Madhura (Sweet)

Guna (Characteristics)- Laghu (Light); Ruksha (Un-unctuous); Teekshna (Sharp in action)

Veerya (Potency)-  Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka (Post digestion effect)-  Katu (Pungent)

Chemical composition:

Leaves of senna contains flavenol and anrathquinone group compounds. In the flavenol group there is present isorhamnetin and kaempfeol. And in the second group it contains rhein and emodin it also contains two types of glucosides known a s sennoside A nad B. besides these it contains menitol, sodium potassium tartarte, salisilic acid, crisophenic acid, volatile oils, resins and calcium oxalate. In the flowers there is special types of acid is present known as crisofenic acid.

Effect on Tridosha (Three bio humors):

Sanay balances Pitta and Vata Dosha. So it can be used effectively in all the diseases which are of Vata/ Pitta or Vata – Pitta origin. It eliminates the excessive Pitta out of the body and makes the movements of the Vata Dosha in favorable diection. 

Actions according to Ayurveda:

• Vitasanga Hantri: Sanay is useful in impacted fecal matter in the rectum.
  
• Vahnimandyahara: Sanay is useful in loss of appectite.
  
• Yakriddaludarahara: Sanay is useful in all condition involving inflammation and enlargement of liver and spleen.
  
• Ajirnahara: Sanay is useful in indigestion and disturbed digestive system.
  
• Kamlahara: Sanay is useful in all conditions which involve yellowish pigmentation of the skin e.g. Jaundice
  
• Panduhara: Sanay is useful in condition of low nutrition status of the body e.g. Anemia.
  

Medicinal value:

• Cassia angustifolia Vahl (Senna Indica) belonging to family Leguminosae which is indigenous to southern Arabia but cultivated in Southern India. Its major chemical constituents are anthraquinone glycosides which are responsible for its faint but characteristic odour and mucilaginous, unpleasant taste .The leaves are claimed to have general cardiotonic activity. Present study was carried out to determine the same by using infusion of leaves with different dilutions & compared with cardiotonic activity of digoxin - the life saving cardiotonic. The activity was tested by using perfused frog heart assembly.
  
• The present preliminary studies confirm the better cardiotonic activity of Cassia angustifolia than digoxin. Further studies can confirm the reduced toxicity & this will be the advantage of Cassia angustifolia over digitalis. Thus, in future it will be interesting to isolate the active chemical constituents which are responsible for the cardiotonic activity.
  
• COMPARATIVE CARDIOTONIC ACTIVITY OF CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIAWITH DIGOXIN ON PERFUSED FROG HEART; Tare Harshal.L.*, Thube B.B.
• A novel oleanen type triterpenoid glycoside has been isolated from butanolic seed extracts of Cassia angustifolia. Its structure was elucidated as 3-O-?-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1 ? 4)-[?-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 ? 2)]-?-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 ? 3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-2, 16-dihydroxy-4, 20-hydroxy methyl olean-12-ene-28-oic acid on the basis of spectral evidence (i.e. FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and FAB-MS data). The isolated saponin was tested for its antifungal activity, where the maximum inhibition was found in Colletotrichium dematium.
  
• Antifungal activity of bioactive triterpenoid saponin from the seeds of Cassia angustifolia Noor Afshan Khan; Ashutosh Srivastava Department of Postgraduate and Research in Chemistry, Rani Durgawati University, Jabalpur, India 
   
• The plant Cassia angustifolia vahl has been used in various diseases. The alcoholic extract of the plant was investigated for the hepatoprotective properties against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. Various biochemical parameters were studied to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of crude extract. In serum, total bilirubin, total protein, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were determined. In addition to these glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxides (LPO) were determined in liver tissue and is supported by histopathological studies of liver before and after the treatment. Results of this study revealed that leaves of Cassia angustifolia could afford a significant protective action in CCI4-induced hepatocellular injury
• Hepatoprotective effect of cassia angustifolia vahl; Ilavarasan R; Mohideen S; Vijay Lakhami M; Manonmani G. Adhiparasakthi College of Pharmacy, Melmaruvathur-603319

Precaution and Warnings:

• The sennosides in Sanay are cathartic. Like all anthraquinones they irritate the bowel wall, stimulating evacuation. Constant use of this herb is not advised since the system can easily become dependent on it. The remedy should not be used in cases of spastic or spasmodic constipation. Similarly, it should not be given in inflammatory conditions of the alimentary canal, fever, piles and in case of excessive blood loss during menstruation.
  
• People with the following conditions should not use Sanay: pain in the abdomen, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or appendicitis. 
  

Useful part:

Leaves; Fruits.

Doses:

Powder: 0.6 – 2 gm.

Some combinations with:

Shatasakar Churna; Yashtyadi Churna