Senna italica

Senna italica, the Port Royal senna, Italian senna, or Senegal senna is a legume tree in the genus Senna. It is recognized by many other common names based on the regions it grows in. In India, it is used to produce a powder for treating hair-related diseases which is known as “neutral henna”. Whereas, in some parts of the world, this species (along with Cassia senna) is cultivated for the leaves which yield the drug senna, known commonly as Senna glycoside, which in turn is the base for a laxative. Senegal senna is easily distinguishable through its many distinctive features. There are 3 subspecies of this plant based on the size of the inflorescence and the length of the petiole. The subspecies are italica, micrantha, and arachoides. In many regions, this plant is cultivated commercially and medicinally.

Description

A herb or small shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It can grow 1 m tall. It has a taproot. The base is woody and the stems are soft. It lies along the ground and has upright flower stalks. The leaves are compound with leaflets along the stalk. They have 3-7 pairs of leaflets. These are unequal in shape and oval. The flowers are yellow. They are 2-2.5 cm across. The fruit are large pods that are flat and have a ridge along them. There are some subspecies.

Edible Uses

Young seeds are cooked and eaten, or used as a coffee substitute. Seeds are sometimes added to beer.

Traditional Uses

The young seeds are cooked and eaten. They are also used as a coffee substitute. The seeds are sometimes used as food. They are also added to beer.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The leaves, pods and seeds of Senna italica are mostly used in traditional medicine. In Malawi, root infusion is used to treat diarrhea in infants. In West African languages, this tree is called mbali or balibali in Bambara, and laïdur in Wolof. Reports on the uses of Senna italica are contradictory. In East Africa, it is eaten by most livestock, whereas in West Africa, it is often avoided. In Sahel regions, young seeds are eaten as snacks or a vegetable. On the other hand, the seeds are smoked in Mauritania. In India, the leaves are used as a hair treatment called neutral henna or “blonde henna”. This treatment coats the hair so that it looks glossy and thick for several weeks, but instead of being completely neutral, "neutral henna" appears to have a yellowish impact on hair rather than the reddish one produced by henna. Fruit production of this plant is generally avoided, as their sennoside content is low.

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot, arid places with a marked dry season. It can have a dry season of 6-11 months and can grow in warm temperate humid locations. It grows in areas with an rainfall below 500 mm. It can grow in acid and salty soils. They can be stony or sandy. It grows between 50-1,830 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Asia, Bahrain, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Chad, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Sahara, SE Asia, Senegal, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, West Africa, Western Sahara, West Indies, Yemen, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants succeed in drier areas of the tropics and subtropics. Prefers a deep, well-drained, moderately fertile sandy loam and a position in full sun. Flowering usually takes place during the rainy season. The economic life of the crop is 3 years at the most. The crop can be rejuvenated by natural regeneration. Senna italica is a host of the root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans). In experiments, the growth of Senna italica was enhanced by inoculation with a mixture of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) inoculum. 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.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soaking for 12 hours in warm water, or abrading the seed with sand can improve germination rates and reduce germination time. The seed germinates easily and is often sown in situ, placing 5 seeds per station and then thinning to the best three plants.

Other Uses

The leaves, traded as ‘neutral henna’ or ‘blonde henna’, are used as a hair conditioner to make the hair glossy. They may impart a yellowish colour rather than a reddish one.

Notes

Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ashrig, Ashrij, Balabali, Dan gywe, Eshraj, Ghora wal, Impengu, Jar birna, Tripoli senna, Ushruq, Valagit

References (16)

• Al-Fatimi, M. A., Wild Edible Plants Traditionally Collected and Used in Southern Yemen. Research Square. University of Aden. p 23
• Bot. Gart. Halle 21. 1800 (As Cassia italica)
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3. Kew.
• Diarra, N. et al, 2016, Etude ethnobotanique des plantes alimentaires utilisées en période de soudure dans les régions Sud du Mali. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 10(1): 184-197
• FAO, 1988, Traditional Food Plants, FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 42. FAO Rome p 158 (As Cassia italica)

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