Feuilles de Senna (Senna alexandrina): Benefits, Dosage, Safety & Evidence

Questions fréquentes

How does senna leaf work as a laxative?

Senna leaf contains sennosides A and B, which are metabolized by gut bacteria into rhein anthrone. This active compound stimulates colonic peristalsis by irritating the intestinal lining and increasing propulsive contractions. Additionally, senna inhibits water and electrolyte absorption in the colon, softening stools and promoting bowel movements. The laxative effect typically occurs 6-12 hours after ingestion, which is why bedtime dosing is recommended. This mechanism is well-established in pharmacological literature (Evidence Level A).

Does senna interact with any medications?

Senna can interact with several medications due to its potential to cause electrolyte imbalances, particularly potassium depletion. Concurrent use with diuretics, corticosteroids, or cardiac glycosides like digoxin increases the risk of arrhythmias from hypokalemia. Senna should not be combined with other stimulant laxatives, as this increases the risk of electrolyte disturbances and dependency. Patients taking heart medications, blood pressure drugs, or diuretics should consult a healthcare provider before using senna. These interactions are documented in pharmacopoeias and clinical guidelines.

What is the recommended dosage for senna leaf?

The standard adult dosage for senna leaf is 1-2 grams of dried leaf or 15-30 mg of sennosides taken at bedtime. Senna tea can be prepared as one cup using 1-2 grams of dried leaf steeped in hot water. The stimulant laxative effect typically occurs within 6-12 hours. Senna should only be used short-term, generally not exceeding 7-10 days without medical supervision. Dosage recommendations are established in multiple national pharmacopoeias including the British and European Pharmacopoeias (Evidence Level A).

Is senna safe to take during pregnancy?

Senna is contraindicated during pregnancy and is considered unsafe for pregnant women. The stimulant laxative properties of senna can cause uterine contractions, potentially leading to premature labor or miscarriage. Additionally, the electrolyte imbalances and dehydration that may result from senna use can harm both the pregnant person and developing fetus. Pregnant individuals experiencing constipation should consult their healthcare provider for safer alternatives. This safety warning is consistent across major pharmacopoeias and clinical guidelines worldwide.

What are the side effects of taking senna?

Common side effects of senna include abdominal cramping, bloating, and flatulence due to its stimulant action on intestinal muscles. More serious concerns with prolonged use include electrolyte imbalances, particularly hypokalemia, and physical dependence on the laxative for bowel movements. Long-term use may cause melanosis coli, a harmless darkening of the colon lining that typically resolves after discontinuation. Chronic use can also lead to reduced bowel function. Senna should not be used for more than 7-10 days without medical supervision (Evidence Level A).

What conditions is senna leaf used to treat?

Senna leaf is primarily used for the relief of occasional constipation and is one of the most widely used botanical laxatives worldwide. It is also used for bowel preparation before colonoscopy and other medical procedures. In traditional medicine systems including Ayurveda, Unani, and African traditional medicine, senna has been used for constipation relief for centuries. Some evidence supports its use for postpartum constipation under medical supervision. Senna is approved as a stimulant laxative in numerous national pharmacopoeias with strong clinical evidence supporting its efficacy (Evidence Level A).

Fiche d'information compilée à partir de PubMed

Cette fiche a été compilée à partir de résumés PubMed (NIH) avec l'assistance d'une IA. Chaque affirmation factuelle est citée par un article PubMed réel (voir la liste des sources). Elle n'a pas encore été révisée par un humain — confirmez auprès d'un professionnel de santé avant utilisation.

Compilé à partir de 30 articles PubMed · modèle : gemma4:31b

Résumé

Senna leaf (Senna alexandrina) is a medicinal plant primarily used as a stimulant laxative [PMID:38198752, PMID:35331086].

Contexte

Senna alexandrina (formerly Cassia senna or Cassia angustifolia) is a small shrub of the Leguminosae/Fabaceae family cultivated in regions including Somalia, the Arabian peninsula, the Nile river, South India, and Pakistan [PMID:8234429, PMID:39027666]. The medicinal drug consists of the dried leaflets or fruits (pods) of the plant [PMID:8234429, PMID:38198752].

Usages traditionnels

It is traditionally used to treat constipation and digestive diseases [PMID:37110216].

Composés actifs

The main active constituents are anthraquinone glycosides, specifically sennoside A and sennoside B, which are dimeric products of aloe emodin and/or rhein [PMID:8234429, PMID:38198752, PMID:35331086].

Mécanisme d'action

Sennosides are reduced by bacterial enzymes in the large intestine to rhein-9-anthrone, which is the active form responsible for the laxative effect [PMID:23125117]. These compounds act as natural stimulant laxatives that promote gastrointestinal motility to relieve functional constipation [PMID:35331086].

Preuves cliniques

Preuve CConstipation

Sennosides A and B act as natural stimulant laxatives that promote gastrointestinal motility and relieve functional constipation [PMID:35331086].

Preuve DObesity-related metabolic disorders

In high-fat diet-fed rats, leaf powder supplementation prevented increases in cholesterol and triglyceride levels and reduced lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide production [PMID:33878116].

Preuve DCadmium-induced hepatotoxicity

Senna alexandrina extract reversed hepatic oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic effects in rats administered cadmium chloride [PMID:31863371].

Preuve DHymenolepis diminuta (Parasitic infection)

Crude ethanolic leaf extracts showed dose-dependent anthelmintic efficacy, causing irrevocable destruction of the body tegument in the parasite [PMID:28316404, PMID:26878612].

Preuve DBreast Cancer (MCF-7 cells)

Senna leaf extract conjugated to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) induced apoptotic characteristics, including elevated ROS levels and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential [PMID:39759104].

Synthèse des preuves

The evidence consists primarily of in vitro studies, animal models (rats/mice), and literature reviews. While its use as a laxative is well-documented in reviews, other therapeutic claims (anti-obesity, anticancer, anthelmintic) are based on preclinical data.

Sources PubMed

1.PMID: 8234429 (1993) — The senna drug and its chemistry. · Pharmacology
2.PMID: 38198752 (2024) — Photostability of sennosides and their aglycones in solution. · Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3.PMID: 36644449 (2023) — Senna: As immunity boosting herb against Covid-19 and several other diseases. · Journal of herbal medicine
4.PMID: 27344673 (2017) — Metals Content in Herbal Supplements. · Biological trace element research
5.PMID: 37110216 (2023) — Comparative LC-ESIMS-Based Metabolite Profiling of Senna italica with Senna alexandrina and Evaluating Their Hepatotoxicity. · Metabolites
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Feuilles de Senna

Sources et citations

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