Cassia acutifolia Delile

Caesalpiniaceae (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) 

Synonyms: C. senna L; C. lenitive Bisch.; C. lanceolata Nect.; C. alexandrina (Gars.) Thell.; Senna acutifolia Link. and S. alexandrina Gars.

Common names: True senna, Alexandrian senna (English); séné moka, cassia séné, casse à feuilles aigues (French); Sennacassie, Sennencassie (German); sena di Levante, sena alessandrina, cassia lanceolata, cassia d'Egitto (Italian); sanā makkī (Arabic), other vernacular names: sanā,; sanā haram.
 


Description

Shrub, 100 cm. almost herbaceous. Leaves 8-10 cm, with 3-7 pairs of lanceolate, acute leaflets. Flowers yellow, about 1-1.5 cm

Flowering

March-June.

Habitat

Wadis in hot deserts

Distribution

Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic. Cassia acutifolia is native only to the southern part of the badia while in the north it is possible to find it at herbalists.

Cassia acutifolia Delile

Use

In the badia: Al-Khatīb: burns (together with olive oil, yolk, ram horn), skin depigmentation.

Field data: purgative.

In literature: laxative (leaves, pods), cathartic (in stronger decoction), purifies the blood, helps piles, tonic for nervous system, general alternative; laxative, purgative, emollient, cholagogue, emmenagogue.

Its use as forage has not been scientifically investigated.

Palatability and importance as forage

Grazed by livestock only in case of drought.

Chemical Data

Anthracenic derivates (2-3% in leaves and pods): free anthraquinones and anthracenosides; eterosides; minerals (10-12% in leaves, 4-6% in pods).

Additional Information

As it is possible to deduce from the vernacular name itself, it is a plant of the Quran, often mentioned by the Prophet as a beneficial plant because of its purgative, purifying effects.

References

Bedevian, A. K. 1936. Illustrated Polyglottic Dictionary of Plant names. Cairo, Argus D Papazian Presses.

Ozenda, P. 1991. Flore et végétation du Sahara. Paris, Ed. du CNRS.

 


Edited by: F. Guiso Gallisai
Information taken from: Sincich, F. 2002. Bedouin Traditional Medicine in the Syrian Steppe. Rome, FAO. 114-115.

All pictures and drawings belong to the author.
 


The presentation of material in this profile do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and has been taken from interviews with the traditional Bedouin doctor, Al-Khatīb and from data collected directly from Bedouins informants.