Herb Guide: Senna

Cassia senna syn. Senna Alexandria

Also, Known As:

• Alexandrian Senna
• Senna

The senna plant is a small shrub belonging to the Caesalpiniaceae family. Incidentally, the senna belongs to two genus of Cassia – C. senna is also known as Alexandrina senna and C. Angustifolia that is also called the Tinnevelly senna. While the first variety of senna is found along the Nile River in Egypt and Sudan, the second type is widely cultivated in southern and eastern parts of India. It may be noted here that some experts are of the opinion that both the varieties of senna belong to a single species – Senna Alexandrina. Despite such claims, it may be said that the two varieties of senna differ greatly both according to morphology (structure of the plants) and histology (tissue study). Hence, the theory that Senna belongs to one single species is yet to get the pharmacognosists’ sanction.