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Useful Tropical Plants

Senna podocarpa

(Guill. & Perr.) Lock

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Cassia podocarpa Guill. & Perr.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Senna podocarpa is a shrub that can grow up to 5 metres tall[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
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[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

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[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitShrub
Height3.50 m
Cultivation StatusWild

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[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
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[
755
Title
Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].

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[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

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[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The root is purgativel and a decoction is used as a stomachic and diuretic and is specifically used to cure oedema and gonorrhoea[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The leaves and pods contain rhein, chrysophanol, emodin and other combined and free anthraquinones[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
In vitro, leaf extracts inhibited the multiplication of herpes simplex virus type HSV-1, whereas they were ineffective against African swine virus[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
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[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Extra caution is needed in case of treatment of children and pregnant women[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]
Repeated administration of different doses of leaf extract caused tissue degenerative changes in the liver and kidneys of rats[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Other Uses

The root contains a dark dye that is used as a body paint[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

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.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-04. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Senna+podocarpa>

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