SENNA 319 



senna-rhamnetin, which differs from rhamnetin found in the fruit of 

 Rhamnus cathartica in that the latter is crystalline and forms a 

 fluorescent solution with sulphuric acid; senna-isoemodin (isomeric 

 with senna-emodin), which is soluble in petroleum ether; cathartic 

 acid; calcium oxalate; and ash 10 to 12 per cent. The active prin- 

 ciples of senna are emodin, chrysophanic acid and cathartic acid. 

 The percentage of emodin is from 0.6 per cent in Tinnivelly leaves 

 to 1 per cent in the Alexandria variety. 



Power (Jour. Chem. Soc., 1913, p. 2006) recently isolated from 

 Alexandria Senna in addition to the substances already referred to: 

 isorhamnetin, rhein (tetra-oxymethylanthraquinone), myricyl alcohol, 

 a phytosterol glucoside, and kaempferol. From Tinnevelly leaves, 

 with the exception of isorhamnetin, he obtained in addition the fol- 

 lowing substances: volatile oil, salicylic acid, kaempferin, the mag- 

 nesium salt of an unidentified organic acid, palmitic and stearic 

 acids, also a quantity of sugar, together with some amorphous glu- 

 cosidal material. Peruvian senna leaves closely resemble Tinnevelly 

 leaves in their chemical composition, with the exception of the mag- 

 nesium salt and the addition of isorhamnetin. 



Allied Plants. Senna pods (Fig. 142), derived from both C. 

 acutifolia and C. angustifolia, are also found in the market, either 

 admixed with the leaves or sold separately; they are from 3.5 to 7 

 cm. in length and about 2 cm. in breadth, greenish-brown to dark 

 brown, and contain from five to seven obovate, dark brown, nearly 

 smooth seeds. They contain apparently the same active principles 

 as the leaves. 



Similar principles are found in other species of Cassia, especially 

 in the American senna (C. marilandica), which is an herbaceous 

 perennial, indigenous to the eastern and central United States and 

 Canada, with 12- to 20-foliate leaves, yellow flowers and linear, 

 slightly curved legumes. The leaves of senna are sometimes admixed 

 with those of Cassia obovata, which are broad and obovate, while 

 the pods of the latter species are distinctly curved. Mecca or Ara- 

 bian senna is obtained from a variety of C. angustifolia, growing in 

 Arabia. The leaves of C. holosericea, of Abyssinia, are quite hairy, 

 and found occasionally in the market under the name of Aden senna. 

 The leaves of other members of the Leguminosaj are used like senna 

 as Cytisus purgans of southern France, Tephrosia Apollinea of 

 Egypt, and Colutea cruenta of the Caucasus region. 



The root of Viviania esculenta (Fam. Geraniacese), of the East 

 Indies, contains a principle resembling cathartic acid. Hooper, 

 Pharm. Jour, and Trans., 1889 (3), p. 77. 



