Common Name:

General Information

Senna podocarpa is a shrub that can grow up to 5 metres tall[].
The plant is commonly harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, and also supplies a dye. This species is the most important medicinal Senna in the wetter parts of west Africa, and will probably remain so. Research has been done, notably in Nigeria, to verify whether it could serve as a source of raw material for the local industrial production of laxatives. As results are positive, this may be taken up in the near future[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Senegal to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

Habitat

Humid localities and at the margin of gallery forest. In forest areas it is often common in anthropogenic habitats such as old farmland[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	3.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Anthraquinone glycosides in Senna podocarpa reach their highest level during the dry season and drop during the rainy season. This can be taken into account when deciding on the time of harvesting[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves are extensively used against gonorrhoea, for their purgative properties, as a Guinea worm expellent and as sore-healing remedy. A paste of pounded leaves is applied to the skin to treat problems such as Guinea worm sores. The leaves, reduced to ash, are mixed with shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) and applied externally to relieve arthritis and rheumatic pains[].

Pods are used in the treatment of skin diseases such as eczema, scabies and ringworm. The extract of the pods is taken as a purgative and has been shown to be as good as commercial ‘Senna’ made from the leaves or pods of Senna alexandrina[].

The root is purgativel and a decoction is used as a stomachic and diuretic and is specifically used to cure oedema and gonorrhoea[].

The leaves and pods contain rhein, chrysophanol, emodin and other combined and free anthraquinones[].
In vitro, leaf extracts inhibited the multiplication of herpes simplex virus type HSV-1, whereas they were ineffective against African swine virus[].
Toxic effects of extracts of the leaves and pods may result from prolonged intake of high doses, but with moderate use the extracts are not considered harmful[]. Extra caution is needed in case of treatment of children and pregnant women[]
Repeated administration of different doses of leaf extract caused tissue degenerative changes in the liver and kidneys of rats[].

Other Uses

The root contains a dark dye that is used as a body paint[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.

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