Cassia acutifolia, is a small shrub about 2 feet high. The stem is erect, smooth, and pale green, with long, spreading branches, bearing leaflets in four or five pairs, averaging an inch long, lanceolate or obovate, unequally oblique at the base, veins distinct on the under surface, brittle, greyish-green, of a faint, peculiar odour, and mucilaginous, sweetish taste. The flowers are small and yellow. The pods are broadly oblong, about 2 inches long by 7/8 inch broad, and contain about six seeds.

Increases the peristaltic movements of the colon by its local action upon the intestinal wall-cathartic.

Senna

Anthraquinone derivatives and their glucosides: -sennoside A and sennoside B. They both hydrolyze to give the aglycones sennidin A and B and two molecules of glucose; sennidins C and D were also found; two naphthalene glycosides isolated from senna leaves.

It increases the peristaltic movements of the colon by its local action upon the intestinal wall. Its active principle must pass out of the system in the secretions unaltered, for when Senna is taken by nurses, the suckling infant becomes purged. It acts neither as a sedative nor as a refrigerant, but has a slight, stimulating influence.

Franz G. The senna drug and its chemistry. Pharmacology 1993 Oct;47 Suppl 1:2-6.