Plant Synonyms

Lawsonia albaLam.

Plant Local Names

Burkina Faso: Moore - Lale, Dioula - Djabi, Fulfulde - Djabe;Lella
Ghana: Dagbani - Z abella, Hausa - Lalle
Mali: Bambara - Dabe, Maninka- Dyabi, Pular -Dyabe, Serere - Fuden
Nigeria: Yoruba - Laali
Senegal: Soussou - Laali, Woiof - Fuden, Malinke - Djabi

Plant Habitat

The plant is widely distributed from Iran and Pakistan to Western India. It can also be found in the Mediterranean, tropical, subtropical and Sahelian regions of Africa (Aweke et al., 2005). It is cultivated mainly in home gardens and near houses preferably in sandy soils.

Plant Material of Interest

Leaf, Stem-bark, root, flower

Plant Used Parts

Plant Uses

The plant is an emmenagogue and abortifacient. The infused leaves are used against trypanosomiasis (Aweke et al., 2005)_and the leaf decoction is used to treat malaria (Loua, 2004).

Plant Therapeutic Action

Antimalarial, trypanocidal, molluscicidal, tuberculostatic, fungitoxic, antitumour, antimicrobial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, healing (Singh and Singh, 2001; Okpekonet al., 2004; Loua, 2004; Aweke et al., 2005; Habbal et al., 2005; Ali et al., 1995).

Plant Precaution for Use

It is recommended that the liver function should be monitored during treatment

Plant Adverse Effect

Mild increase in liver transaminases

Plant Contraindication

Liver disease

Plant Dosage Forms

Infusion: 30 g dried leaves in 600 ml of water; 3- 4 teacups daily
Tincture; 1:5 in 45% alcohol; 5 ml three times daily

Plant Dosage

Plant Storage

Store in a cool dry place

Plant Chromatographic Fingerprint

Plant Constituents

Quinones (lawsone and 2-hydroxy-1,4- naphthoquinone, lawsoniaside, 1,4-
naphthoquinone, isoplumbagine); xanthones (laxanthones); flavonoids (luteolin, luteolin- glycosides, acacetine, apigenin-glycosides); tannins; coumarins (lacoumarine, scopoletin, esculetin, fraxetine); naphthalene derivatives (1,2-dihydroxy-4-glucosylnapthalene, diglucosyloxy-1,4-2-hydroxynaphthalene 1,3- dihydroxy-naphthalene, 4-glucosyioxy-1 ,2- dihydroxynapthalene); sterols ((3-sitosterol, stigmasterol, daucosterol); pentacyclic triterpenes (hennadiol, lupeol, betulin betulinic acid); essential oils.

Plant Pictures

Plant References

Ali, B.H., Bashir, A.K., Tanira, M.O. (1995). Anti¬inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic effects of Lawsonia inermis L. (henna) in rats. Pharmacology 51(6):356-63.
Arayne, M.S., Sultana, N., Mirza, A.Z., Zuberi, M.H., Siddiqui, F.A. (2007). In vitro hypoglycemiant activity of methanolic extract of some indigenous plants; Pakistani Journal of Pharmaceutical Science 20(4):268-73.
Aweke, Getachew, Tapapul, Suzanne, (2005). Lawsonia inermis L. [Internet] Fiche de Protabase. Jansen, P.C.M. & Cardon, D. (Editeurs). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources vegetales de lAfrique tropicale), Wageningen, Pays Bas. http://database.prota.org/recherche.htm. Visite le 24 juin.
Habbal, O.A., Al-Jabri, A.A., El-Hag, A.H., Al- Mahrooqi, Z.H. et al. (2005). In-vitro antimicrobial activity of Lawsonia inermii.inn (henna). A pilot study on the Omani henna. Saudi Medical Journal 26(1):69-72.
Kok, A.N., Ertekin, M.V., Ertekin, V., Avci, B. (2004). Henna (Lawsonia iprermisL.) induced haemolytic anaemia in siblings. International Journal of Clinical Practice 58(5):530-532.
Loua, J. (2004). Investigations therapeutiques et phytochimique de Lawsonia inermisL. utilise en medecine traditionnelle guineenne dans le traitement du paludisme ; these de Phytotherapie et Plantes Medicinales, Departement de Pharmacie, Faculte de medecine-Pharmacie- Odontostomatologie, Universite de Conakry, Guinee.
Mikhaeil, B.R., Badria, F.A., Maatooq, G.T., Amer, M.M. (2004). Antioxydant and immunomodulatory constituents of henna leaves. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung C. 59(7-8):468-476.