Description
A small erect shrub, Indian senna attains a height of about 2 to 3 feet. Its stem is pale green, smooth and erect. The spread out branches possess around 4 to 5 pairs of leaves. These leaves are pale yellowish-green in color, elongated spear shaped with pointed apex, about 1 to 2-inch in length and about 0.2 to 0.3-inch in breadth. The plantar surface is shiny green and dorsal surface is yellowish green. The plant has small yellow flowers. The brown pod contains 5 to 7 seeds that are dark brown in color.Indian senna is native to India, Arab and tropical African countries. It is cultivated in India, Pakistan, Egypt and Sudan. In India, it is found throughout the year in South, mainly the districts of Tinnevelly, Madurai, Tiruchirapally and Mysore. It is commonly known as Indian Senna in English, Sanaya and Hindisana in Hindi, Swarn Patri in Sanskrit, Nat ki Sana and Sonamukhi in Gujarati, Nilavaka and Chinnukki in Malayalam, Nelavrika and Sonamukhi in Kannada and Nilapponnai in Tamil.
A small erect shrub, Indian senna attains a height of about 2 to 3 feet. Its stem is pale green, smooth and erect. The spread out branches possess around 4 to 5 pairs of leaves. These leaves are pale yellowish-green in color, elongated spear shaped with pointed apex, about 1 to 2-inch in length and about 0.2 to 0.3-inch in breadth. The plantar surface is shiny green and dorsal surface is yellowish green. The plant has small yellow flowers. The brown pod contains 5 to 7 seeds that are dark brown in color.Indian senna is native to India, Arab and tropical African countries. It is cultivated in India, Pakistan, Egypt and Sudan. In India, it is found throughout the year in South, mainly the districts of Tinnevelly, Madurai, Tiruchirapally and Mysore. It is commonly known as Indian Senna in English, Sanaya and Hindisana in Hindi, Swarn Patri in Sanskrit, Nat ki Sana and Sonamukhi in Gujarati, Nilavaka and Chinnukki in Malayalam, Nelavrika and Sonamukhi in Kannada and Nilapponnai in Tamil.
Plant Chemicals
(+)- flavenol (isorhamnetin, kaempfeol), anrathquinone (rhein, emodin), sennoside A, sennoside B, menitol, sodium potassium tartarte, salisilic acid, crisophenic acid, volatile oils, resins, calcium oxalate.
Uses & Benefits of Indian Senna
- Indian senna decreases pita and allows free movement of vata in the body.
- The herb stimulates liver for proper secretion of enzymes in the body.
- It helps in lowering bowels and increasing the peristaltic movement of the intestines.
- Indian senna purifies blood and restores the metabolic imbalance lost due to indigestion.
- The powder made from crushing leaves and fruit is helpful in treating constipation and indigestion.
- It is useful in relieving people from the condition of osteoarthritis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis.
- The herb is used as an expectorant, wound dresser, antidysentric, carminative and laxative.
- Indian senna is handy in treating loss of appetite, hepatomegaly, spleenomegaly, malaria, skin diseases, jaundice and anemia.
- The herb has purgative, anthchiintic, antipyretic, cathartic, laxative, vermifuge and diuretic properties.
