Anthranoid Derivatives — Cassia Species

Abstract

Botany Two species of Cassia (family Caesalpiniaceae, formerly Leguminosae) are used as herbal medicines: Cassia senna L. = Cassia acutifolia Del. (yields Alexandrian senna) and Cassia angustifolia Vahl (yields Tinnevelly senna). The plant parts used medicinally are the dry leaves (Sennae Folium) and the mature pods (Sennae Fructus Acutifoliae, Sennae Fructus Angustifoliae). Chemistry Sennae Folium and Sennae Fructus contain mainly dianthrone glycosides (sennosides) as active components. Sennae Folium contains about 3% of anthra-glycosides, whereas Sennae Fructus contains about 5%. The sennosides A and B are the mesomeric forms of rhein dianthrone-8,8'-diglucoside, and sennosides C and D are the corresponding pair of rhein-aloe-emodin dianthrone-8,8'-diglucoside. Mono-and diglucosides of rhein and aloe-emodin and of the corresponding anthrones as well as free anthraguinones and dime ric anthrones (sennidines) are also present [1]. The genuine compounds are the glucosides of rhein anthrone and aloe-emodin anthrone, which form the sennosides by dimerisation during drying [2,3]. Pharmacology and Uses Sennae Folium and Sennae Fructus are most popular remedies against constipation and they are present in numerous herbal laxative preparations sold throughout the world [1,2]. The laxative dose is O.5-2g [4]. Although the anthra-glycoside content of Sennae Fructus is higher than that of Sennae Folium the latter drug is more active at equal dosage. This is probably due to the higher content of aloe-emodin anthrone in the leaves. This is the most active compound of the laxative anthranoid derivatives [1,5].