SENNA 233 



thick roots, imported in irregular logs of various sizes, usually de- 

 prived of the bark, and externally of a dark-brown color; internally 

 of a rich red color, showing in transverse sections circles of a lighter 

 tint. Used in Compound Tincture of Lavender. 

 Powder. Microscopical elements of: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 

 CONSTITUENTS. The most important constituents are the red coloring- 

 matter, santalin, in needles, soluble in alcohol, ether, acetic acid, and 

 alkaline solutions, but insoluble in water, and only slightly soluble 

 in boiling water and santalic acid, CisHuCv The yellow ethereal 

 solution is turned to violet by alkalies. Santol, pterocarpin, and 

 homopterocarpin are also constituents. Ash, not to exceed 3 per cent. 



Preparation of Santalin. Precipitate alcoholic tincture with lead acetate; 

 decompose this precipitate with H 2 S in presence of alcohol and evaporate. Red 

 needles are obtained, which are inodorous, tasteless, resinous; soluble in the alkalies 

 with violet, and in ether with yellow color. 



ACTION AND USES. Of no value medicinally. Used in pharmacy for 

 coloring preparations. 



OFFICIAL PREPARATION. 



Tinctura Lavandulae Composita. 



240. SENNA. SENNA 



SENNA 

 The dried leaflets of Ca'ssia acutifo'lia Delile and C. angustifolia Vahl. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. The acute-leaved senna, C. acutifo'lia, is a leafy 

 shrub 2 to 5 feet high, bearing axillary racemes of yellow flowers. Legume 

 flat, broadly oblong, very slightly curved inward, rounded at the extremities, 

 terminating in an indurated and nearly obsolete style. 



SOURCE. Alexandria senna, exported by the way. of Alexandria, is de- 

 rived from Ca'ssia acutifo'lia, a species growing wild abundantly in 

 upper Egypt, Nubia, etc. India senna (C. angustifo'lia) is obtained 

 chiefly in Arabia, reaching western ports by way of Bombay and 

 other Indian ports; sometimes called Mocha senna, as originally from 

 that port. The same plant in cultivation yields Tinnevelly senna. 

 The plant yields two annual crops, the best at the close of the rainy 

 season (September), and the other during the dry season. Prepared 

 for market by the natives, who carry it there on camels, where it is 

 cleaned (garbled) and sold. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Both the Alexandria and the India senna consist 

 of leaflets, a prominent distinction between the two being their size ; 

 the former, the acutif olia, is described as follows : Lanceolate or ovate- 

 lanceolate, 1.5 to 3 cm. long, 5 to 8 mm. broad; apex acute, mucronate; 

 base unequal, acute; margin entire; upper surface light green, nearly 



