Structure & Medicinal

The medicinal action of Senna can be attributed mainly to the anthraquinone glycosides,especially sennoside A and B. It appears that the aglycone portion is responsible for its action. The breakdown of the anthraquinone glycosides in the digestive tract can occur inone of two aig The bowel flora can directly hydrolyze them in a similar way to that of free active aglycone.

Alternatively, in the presence of bile and the sugar moiety, the free aglycone can be absorbed into the blood stream and secreted later into the colon. The final result is stimulation of the Auerbach plexus resulting in increased intestinal muscle contraction.

Its mucilage content decreases bodily absorption of fluid leading to an enhancement of the final laxative action.lt is known to have antihelminthic property.