Tehran University of Medical Sciences

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Senna Alexandrina Mill. Publisher



Rahimi R1, 2 ; Yekta NH3
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. PhytoPharmacology Interest Group (PPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Therapeutic Medicinal Plants in Traditional Persian Medicine Published:2024


Abstract

Senna alexandrina Mill. is a medicinal plant known in TPM as a purgative and used for the management of various disorders especially neurological diseases such as epilepsy, migraine and chronic headache; respiratory tract disorders such as pleurisy and asthma; and skin diseases such as alopecia areata, ichthyosis, pruritis, dermatitis, and chronic rash. Senna is also applied for musculoskeletal disorders including osteoarthritis, sciatica, gout, and backache. Current studies mainly focused on its laxative properties in different situations coinciding with constipation. Moreover, it seems to be beneficial in patients with diabetes and hypertension. The long-term use of senna products is not recommended because it may lead to hypokalemia, damage to the surface epithelium of gastrointestinal tract, impairment of bowel function, anatomic alteration of the colon, melanosis coli, cardiac arrhythmias, nephropathies, edema, and accelerated bone deterioration. Senna should not be used on children under 12 years of age and on pregnant and lactating women. © 2024 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.