Plant Synonyms

Cassia occidentalis L.; Cassia caroliniana Walter; Cassia foetida Persoon; Ditremexa occidentalis (L) Britt & Rose

Plant Local Names

Buirkina Faso: Moore - Kinkeliba, Dioula - M'balan m'balan;mbala fin, Fulfulde-Tasbati
Cote d'lvoire: Baoule - Aloukou Sere, Malink6 - Badjaa; - M'bechilfe
Gambia: Mandinka - Kassala, Fulla - Tiga Sowru, Wollof - Hobi
Ghana: Akan - Mmofraborodee, Ga Dangme -Gbekebii Arnadaa, Ewe - Dzongbale
Mali: Bambara - N'Balan Balanfing, Noms -Tasbati, Malinke - Kasse
Niger: Djerma - Sanga Sanga, Hausa -Raydore
Nigeria: Yoruba - Rere
Senegal: Serer - Ben Fene; Benekene, Wolof -Bantamare, Diola - Bufata
Sierra Leone: Kisi - Dilankido, Shebro -Sabibosueleh, Temne - E- Bambaforke
Togo: Ewe - Bessissan, Ouatchi - Avakofe; Adja - Laloui

Plant Habitat

Common weed on wasteland in villages and towns and on roadsides; pantropical.

Plant Material of Interest

Leaf, Seed and root

Plant Used Parts

Plant Uses

S. occidentalis is used in many parts of Africa to treat a range of conditions such as abscesses, bruises, cataracts, constipation, eye infections, headache, jaundice, kidney infections, leprosy, malaria, kidney pain, menstrual disorders, rheumatism, ringworm, scabies, sore throat, stomach ulcers, stomachache, syphilis, tetanus, worms, fevers, tuberculosis, anaemia, liver, disorders; general weakness; asthma; bronchitis; venereal diseases (Chukwujekwu et al, 2005; Tona et al., 2004; Samy and Ignacimuthu, 2000; Kuo et al., 1996; Soukup, 1970; Rutter 1990; Coimbra, 1994; Ayensu, 1981; Altschul, 1983; Ronquillo, 1988; Robineau, 1989; Standley and Steyermark, 1946; Kabiruddin, 1951; Kirthikar et al 1969). In Mali, the leaves are used to treat oedema and a decoction is made for malaria, fevers in pregnancy, yellow fever, headache and conjunctivitis. The seeds are brewed into a coffee-like beverage for asthma, hypertension, malaria, fevers and stomach complaints.

Plant Therapeutic Action

Antianaemic, antimicrobial, detoxicant, antihypertensive, antihelminthic, antihepatitis, antimalarial

Plant Precaution for Use

The aqueous extract of the plant can cause hypoglycaemia and increased hepatic and renal function. Blood glucose and the biochemical parameters of liver and kidney need to be regularly monitored on prolonged use

Plant Adverse Effect

Long term ingestion of small amounts and single high dose of the seed caused myodegeneration, respiratory failure, disruption of mitochondrial structure and death in rabbits (O'Hara and Pierce, 1974). High doses can interfere with the metabolism of some drugs in the liver.

Plant Contraindication

Pregnancy, hypotension, antihypertensives

Plant Dosage Forms

Decoction; tincture

Plant Dosage

Decoction: 10 g of dried powdered leaves in 500 ml water; 1 teacup two times daily. Tincture: 1:5 in 50% ethanol; 5 ml three times daily

Plant Storage

Store in airtight containers, in a cool dry place, protected from light.

Plant Chromatographic Fingerprint

Analytical TLC on silica gel G60 F254, 0.25 fhm layer in petroleum ether (40-60 °C)/chloroform [2:8], detection in daylight, after spraying with anisaldehyde (0.5 ml) mixed with 10 ml glacial acetic acid, 85 ml methanol and 5 ml concentrated sulphuric acid and heated to 100- 110°C for 5-10 min. Presence of eight characteristic spots with R,s 0.71 (pink), 0.64 (pink), 0.55 (dark grey), 0.35 (pink), 0.29 (pink), 0.21 (brown), 0.19 (violet) and'0.09 (green).

Plant Constituents

Anthraquinone (e.g. the sennosides, chrysophanol, physcion, helminthosporin, emodin), fatty oils, flavonoids ((jaceine 7- rhamnoside, mattencinol 7-rhamnoside, malteucinol 7-rhamnoside, jaceidin-7- rhamnoside, cassiaoccidentalins A, B. and C), xanthones (cassiollin); gallactomannan, polysaccharides and tannins) (Chukwujekwu et al., 2006; Chauhan et al., 2001; Purwar et al., 2003; Hatanoe/ al., 1999; Ikram et al., 1978; Glasby, 1991; Rai and Shok, 1983; Gupta et al., 2005).

Plant Pictures

Senna occidentalis (L.) Link

Senna occidentalis (L.) Link

Plant References

Ake, A.L. (1983). Some medicinal properties of Cassia occidentalis, Caesalpinaceae, in the lower Ivory Coast. Bothalia 14:617-620 (in French).
Altschul, S. (1983). Drugs and Foods from Lirrle- Known Planis. Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA 116-120.
Aragao, T.P., Lyra, M.M., Silva, M.G., Andrade, B.A. el al. (2009). Toxicological reproductive study of Cassia occidentalis L. in female Wistar rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 123(1):163- 166.
Ayensu, E.S. (1981). Medicinal Plants of the West Indies. Reference Publications, Algonac 282.
Babitha, S., Shin, J.H., Nguyen, D.H., Park, S.J. et al. (2011). A stimulatory effect of Cassia occidentalis on melanoblast differentiation and migration. Archives of Dermatology Research. 303(3):211-216.
Bhagat, M., Saxena, A.K. (2010). Evaluation of Cassia occidentalis for in vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines and antibacterial activity. Indian Journal of Pharmacology 42(4):234-237.
Bin-Haleez, B., Ahmad, I., Haque, R., Raisuddin, S. (2001). Protective effect ol Cassia occidentalis L. on cyclophosphamide-induced suppression of humoral immunity in mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 75:13-18.
Borrelli, F., Capasso, R., Aviello, G., Di Carlo, G. et al. (2005). Senna and the formation of aberrant crypt foci and tumors in rats treated with azoxymethane. Phytomedicine 2(6-7):501-505.
Caceres, A., Lopez, B.R., Giron, M.A., Logemann, H. (1991). Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatophyte infections. I. Screening for antifungal activity of 44 plant extracts. Journal of Eihnopharmacology 31: 263- 276.