Review on the Ethnobotany, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile of Senna occidentalis L. (Fabaceae): Potential Application as Remedy in the Treatment of Dysmenorrhea

Senna occidentalis L. has been used in several traditional medicines against various diseases and this is based on its botanical, ethnopharmacology, and phytochemistry profiles. This powerful herb is recognized for its antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimutagenic, protective, and inflammatory hepatic activity. Multiple chemical compounds, including achrosine, aloe-emodin, emodin, anthraquinones, etc., have been isolated from this plant. The results of this bibliographic research thus presented in this review have demonstrated the ability of certain extracts from S. occidentalis L. to lower the lipid peroxide content, the activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and phospholipase A2 in exudates of the granuloma of cotton pellets, thus resulting in a reduced availability of arachidonic acid, an important precursor in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, which are the only likely source and/or cause of dysmenorrhea. Thus, based on its phytochemical profile and its pharmacological properties, it is therefore suggested that S. occidentalis would be a potential and effective remedy in the treatment of dysmenorrhea

Microbial Occurrence and Distribution at Different Rhizosphere Depths of Musa sapientum var parasidiaca and Senna occidentalis.

In this study, we focussed on the isolation, enumeration, distribution and occurrence of rhizomicroflora of Musa sapientum var parasidiaca and Senna occidentalis. The population, occurrence and distribution of culturable bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm depths rhizosphere samples of Musa sapientum var parasidiaca and Senna occidentalis growing in the botanical garden of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria, were investigated using standard plate count and biochemical techniques. Bacteria were the most predominant in the rhizosphere of both plants, followed by fungi, then actinomycetes. The culturable microbial population was at its maximum for depths 10 and 15 cm in M. sapientum var parasidiaca. In S. occidentalis, bacterial population was highest at 5cm, fungi at 10cm and actinomycetes at 15cm depth of the rhizosphere. Bacillus cereus had 100% distribution in the rhizosphere of both plants and Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis each had 75% distribution in both rhizospheres. Rhizosphere depth of 10 cm had 100% distribution of bacteria, and the least bacterial distribution was found at 20cm. Fungi were most distributed at 15cm rhizosphere of M. sapientum var parasidiaca and at 10 and 15 cm rhizosphere of S. occidentalis. Rhizopus stolonifer had 100% distribution and the highest % occurrence in the rhizosphere of both plants with Aspergillus niger having 100 and 75% distribution in the rhizosphere of M. sapientum and S. occidentalis respectively. Actinomycetes were most distributed at 10 cm (60 and 80% in rhizosphere of M. sapientum and S. occidentalis respectively). Streptomyces sp had the highest distribution in the rhizosphere of both plants and 58.33 and 55.17% occurrences in rhizosphere of M. sapientum and S. occidentalis respectively. Streptomyces alanosinicus and S. gancidicus were absent among the rhizosphere isolates of M. sapientum. Similarly, S. globosus and S. sampsonii were not found in the rhizosphere of S. occidentalis. The abundance of the microorganisms in these rhizospheres is typical of an environment with high species richness and functional diversity.

Intoxicação espontânea por Senna occidentalis em javalis (Sus scrofa ferus) no estado de Goiás / Spontaneous poisoning by Senna occidentalis in wild boars (Sus scrofa ferus) in Goiás, Brazil

Descreve-se um surto de intoxicação por Senna occidentalis em javalis no Estado de Goiás. De um rebanho de 80 javalis, 15 adoeceram e um morreu. Os sinais clínicos observados foram apatia, prostração, ataxia, tremores musculares, incoordenação, relutância em mover-se, decúbito esternal ou lateral, paresia e paralisia espástica, principalmente dos membros pélvicos. As principais alterações macroscópicas consistiam de palidez moderada a acentuada da musculatura esquelética dos membros pélvicos e torácicos e no lombo, especialmente nos músculos da coxa. Microscopicamente, observou-se degeneração e necrose flocular, multifocal, leve a moderada, monofásica, com fragmentação de fibras na musculatura esquelética. Nos cortes transversais, havia fibras musculares tumefeitas e hipereosinofílicas. Adicionalmente, havia degeneração microvacuolar hepatocelular difusa, leve a moderada. A atividade sérica da CK estava acentuadamente elevada em dois javalis avaliados e da TGO aumentou em um javali afetado.

An outbreak of poisoning by Senna occidentalis in wild boars in Goiás, Brazil, is described. Out of 80 wild boars, 15 were affected and one died. Clinical signs included apathy, muscle tremors, incoordination, reluctance to move, sternal or lateral recumbence, and paresis and spastic paralysis, especially in the hind limbs. Gross lesions were characterized by moderate to severe paleness of the skeletal muscles of the hind and thoracic limbs and loin, and were marked in the thigh muscles. Histologically, a monophasic, mild to moderate, multifocal floccular muscle degeneration and necrosis with skeletal fiber sarcoplasmic fragmentation was observed. In transverse sections there were multiple swollen and hypereosinophilic muscle fibers. In addition, mild to moderate, diffuse microvacuolar degeneration was seen in the liver. Creatine phosphokinase serum activity was severely elevated in two evaluated wild boars. In one of them, there was elevation of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase serum activity.

Spontaneous coffee senna poisoning in cattle: report on 16 outbreaks / Intoxicação espontânea por fedegoso em bovinos: relato de 16 surtos

Sixteen outbreaks of Senna occidentalis (coffee senna) that occurred in cattle in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were reviewed. The great majority (75 percent) of the outbreaks occurred in adult cattle at pasture during the autumn and winter months with 50 percent in May, evidencing a striking seasonality. Mortality rates varied from 4.2 percent to 55.2 percent and cattle died 2 days up to 2 weeks after showing clinical signs that included dry feces (occasionally diarrhea), muscle weakness, reluctance to move, tachypnea, instability of the hind limbs with dragging of the toes, tremors in muscles of the thighs, neck, and head, ear dropping, sternal recumbency, lateral recumbency and death. Myoglobinuria characterized by a dark red or black discolored urine was a consistent finding in cattle affected at pasture but not in those poisoned by ration contaminated with coffee senna beans. Creatine phosphokinase serum activity was marked ly elevated. Main gross changes observed in 23 necropsies involved skeletal muscles of the hind limbs. These changes consisted of varying degrees of paleness of muscle groups. Subepicardial and subendocardial hemorrhages were present in the hearts of all affected cattle. Histologically a segmental degenerative myopathy of striated muscles was present in every case and had a multifocal polyphasic or monophasic character. Myocardial (3/23), hepatic (3/13), renal (3/10), and splenic (1/6) microscopic lesions were observed occasionally. Myocardial lesions were mild and consisted of vacuolation of cardiomyocytes or focal fibrosis. Hepatic changes consisted of diffuse hepatocelular vacuolation, cytosegrosomes within hepatocytes, and individual hepatocellular necrosis. Kidneys had vacuolar degeneration of tubular epithelium associated with acidophilic casts (proteinosis) within tubular lumina. In the spleen there was marked necrosis of lymphocytes of the white pulp. No histological changes were found in the brains of 13 affected cattle. The data of this study suggest that coffee senna poisoning is an important cause of death in cattle in southern Brazil.

Dezesseis surtos de intoxicação por Senna occidentalis (fedegoso) em bovinos do Rio Grande do Sul foram revisados. A grande maioria dos surtos (75 por cento) ocorreu em bovinos adultos em pastoreio durante o outono e inverno com 50 por cento dos surtos em maio, evidenciando uma notável sazonalidade. Os coeficientes de mortalidade variaram de 4,2 por cento a 55,2 por cento e os bovinos morriam 2 dias a duas semanas após mostrarem sinais clínicos que incluíam fezes ressecadas (ocasionalmente diarreia), fraqueza muscular, relutância em mover-se, taquipneia, instabilidade dos membros pélvicos com arrastamento das pinças, tremores nos músculos das coxas, pescoço e cabeça; orelhas caídas, decúbito esternal, decúbito lateral, e morte. Mioglobinúria, caracterizada por urina vermelho-escura ou preta foi regularmente encontrada em bovinos afetados em pastoreio, mas não naqueles que se intoxicaram ao ingerir ração contaminada com as sementes da planta. A atividade sérica da creatina fosfocinase estava acentuadamente elevada. As principais alterações macroscópicas observadas em 23 necropsias envolviam os músculos esqueléticos dos membros pélvicos. Essas alterações consistiam de graus variáveis de palidez em grupos musculares. Hemorragias subepicárdicas e subendocárdicas ocorreram nos corações de todos os bovinos afetados. Histologicamente, miopatia degenerativa dos músculos estriados esteve presente em todos os casos e tinha um caráter multifocal monofásico ou polifásico. Lesões microscópicas no miocárdio (3/23), fígado (3/13), rim (3/10) e baço (1/6) foram ocasionalmente observadas. As lesões miocárdicas eram discretas e consistiam de vacuolização dos cardiomiócitos ou fibrose focal. As lesões hepatocelulares consistiam de vacuolização difusa, formação de citossegrossomos e necrose individual. Nos rins havia degeneração vacuolar do epitélio tubular associada a cilindros eosinofílicos (proteinose) na luz tubular. No baço havia marcada necrose de linfócitos da polpa branca. Nenhuma alteração foi encontrada ao exame histológico do encéfalo de 13 bovinos afetados. Os dados deste estudo sugerem que a intoxicação por fedegoso é uma importante causa de morte em bovinos do sul do Brasil.

Aspectos étnicos, biológicos e químicos de Senna occidentalis (Fabaceae) / Ethnic, biological and chemical aspects of Senna occidentalis (Fabaceae)

Senna occidentalis (sin. Cassia occidentalis) é um arbusto perene nativo da América do Sul e distribuída em regiões tropicais ao redor do mundo, frequentemente contaminando pastos e culturas de cereais. Inúmeros estudos demonstraram que esta planta é tóxica para animais. Na medicina popular, tribos americanas, africanas e indianas usam preparações da S. occidentalis como tônico, estomáquico, febrífugo, laxante e antimicrobiano. Diversas propriedades biológicas da espécie já foram comprovadas, tais como a antibacteriana, antifúngica, antimalárica, antitumoral e hepatoprotetora. As análises fitoquímicas evidenciaram que as antraquinonas, os flavonóides e outros derivados fenólicos são os seus principais constituintes. Esta revisão apresenta dados etnofarmacológicos, químicos e biológicos publicados na literatura sobre S. occidentalis.

Senna occidentalis (syn. Cassia occidentalis) is a perennial shrub, native to South America and indigenous to tropical regions throughout the world, often contaminating pastures and cereal crops. There have been many reports showing that S. occidentalis is toxic to animals. In traditional medicine, some American, African and Indian ethnic groups use S. occidentalis preparations in stomach treatments and as a tonic, febrifuge, laxative and topical antimicrobial agent. Several biological properties of this species have been proved, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antitumor and hepatoprotective activity. Phytochemical analysis has shown that anthraquinones, flavonols and other phenolics are its major constituents. In this paper we present an overview of the ethnopharmacological, chemical and biological data published in the literature on S. occidentalis.