Cassia

Chemical Properties

A shrub up to 2 m (6.5 ft) tall; grows in tropical and subtropical countries and is cultivated in India and Pakistan. Some confusion exists in the botanical classification. Some pharmacopeae permit the use of only the Tinnevelly variety, C. augustifolia Vahl. This variety is taller and has a thicker foliage and smaller fruits than C. acutifolia Delile. Also, C. obovata is often classified as C. alexandria. C. medicinalis Bischoff var. Royleana has pinnate leaves consisting of a 7 to 15 cm long rachis and from five to nine pairs of short-petioled, lanceolate leaflets with an asymmetric base and acuminate apex. The fruits, commercially known as follicales, are greenish or sometimes brownish. The part used is the leaflet. Senna is the most commonly used laxative.

Chemical Properties

yellow, tan or brown powder

Definition

ChEBI: Sennoside A is a member of the class of sennosides that is rel-(9R,9'R)-9,9',10,10'-tetrahydro-9,9'-bianthracene-2,2'-dicarboxylic acid which is substituted by hydroxy groups at positions 4 and 4', by beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy groups at positions 5 and 5', and by oxo groups at positions 10 and 10'. The exact stereochemisty at positions 9 and 9' is not known - it may be R,R (as shown) or S,S. It is a member of sennosides and an oxo dicarboxylic acid.

Composition

The leaves contain sennaemodin, sermanigrin, sermarhamnetin, and anthraquinones. Presence of anthraquinones including dianthrone glycosides, sennosides A and B (rhein dianthrones), sennosides C and D (rhein aloeemodin heterodianthrones) and several sennosides have been detected. Similar to leaves, the pod also contains rhein dianthrone glycosides. Two naphthalene glycosides isolated from senna leaves and pods are 6-hydroxymusicin glucoside and tinnevellin glucoside.* Senna contains anthracene derivatives (2.5 to 3.5% in the leaves, ~3.4% in the fruits of C. senna, 2.2 to 6.0% in the fruits of C. angustifolia). The chief components are sennosides A, A1 and B, as well as sennosides C and D. It also contains naphthalene derivatives including 6-hydroxymusizin glucoside (0.85% in C. senna), tinnevellin-6-glucoside (0.3% in C. angustifolia).

General Description

Yellow-brown powder with a slight odor and taste.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Cassia is incompatible with mineral acids, carbonates, infusion cinchona, lime water, salts of heavy metals and tartar emetic .

Health Hazard

SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of exposure to Cassia may include purging and blood in the stools. It can cause collapse. Griping and abortion also occur. The urine may acquire a marked yellow color, which changes to red on the addition of alkali.

Fire Hazard

Flash point data for Cassia are not available; however, Cassia is probably combustible.

Raw materials

Preparation Products