Health benefit
Laxative
Botanical Origin
Cassia angustifolia Vahl.
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PHARMACEUTICALS
Sennosides 45% S
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The Active Ingredient
Into the Plant
Common Name
Cassia angustifolia standardized extract
Botanical Origin
Cassia angustifolia Vahl.
Type
Dry Extract
Plant source
Leaf
Health benefit
Laxative
Assay
≥42.5% ≤47.5% of hydroxyanthracene glycosides, calculated as sennoside B by spectrophotometry
Broad category
Gastrointestinal Health
Green trigger for the intestine peristalsis
Many varieties of Cassia have been considered by the folk medicine many centuries ago as therapeutical plants. In the 12th century a court physician of the Caliph Alhakem recorded usefulness of this natural agent in eye affections and against leprosy. Later, Paracelsus recommended it as the most reliable among all the known laxative agent. Finally, in the second half of the 19th century the active principles were investigated, designating them as Sennoside A and Sennoside B.
Considering the mechanism of action, this two anthraquinone glycosides are metabolized by gut bacteria into an active metabolite, called rheinanthrone. This molecule appears to increase macrophage expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) which raises the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) 2. This enhancement in PGE2 is associated with a subsequent decrease in aquaporin-3 expression.
The reduced expression of aquaporin-3 likely restricts reabsorption of water in the large intestine resulting in the laxative effect of rheinanthrone. Rheinanthrone seems to stimulate peristalsis in the large intestine dependent on contact with the mucosal epithelium, too.
