Senna Leaf is commonly known as senna or Alexandrian senna, and its scientific name is Cassia angustifolia. Senna has been used since the 9th century by Arabian physicians as a laxative and has been known as the “cleansing herb.” “Only the leaves and the pods of the herb are therapeutically useful,” states Herbs 2000. Senna is often taken as a tea, capsule, tablet or liquid extract.

Senna (from Arabic sanā), the sennas, is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. This diverse genus is native throughout the tropics, with a small number of species reaching into temperate regions. The number of species is usually estimated to be about 260, but some authors believe that there are as many as 350. The type species for the genus is Senna alexandrina. About 50 species of Senna are known in cultivation.

Alternate Names: Cassia senna, cassia acutifolia, cassia marilandica, cassia augustifolia, wild senna, locust plant, aden senna

The leaves and pods of the senna plant contain compounds called anthraquinones, which are powerful laxatives.