Senna (cassia angustifolia)

Medicinal plants

1. Senna ( Cassia angustifolia ) सनाय Family : Leguminosae

2. Plant Profile : English name : Indian senna Sanskrit name : Swarnapatri Species : over 300 species and 50 species of  Senna  are known in cultivation . mainly Cassia senna  and  Cassia angustifolia Distribution : South Africa, India, Sudan in India in southern districts of TN viz. Ramanathpuram & Madurai in about 10,000 ha Uses : Drug ( Laxative property )

3. List of important species :

4. Introduction : Erect shrub reaching more than 70 cms in height Mainly leaves and pods are used Contains Sennosides A, B, C & D (1-1.5%) which is used for preparation of Laxatives and Purgatives Flowers are yellow in color and pods contains 5-7 dark brown seeds India ranks 1 st in its production and annually earns 45 millions Almost all senna leaves are exported to London markets Senna also contains a yellow flavonol colouring matter Kaempferol . Acting as an antioxidant by reducing stress

5. Production technology : Climate : High temperature and humid climate Low rainfall Soil : Grows well in sandy loam soil with pH range 7-8.5 Sensetive to waterlogged conditions, heavy rainfall and low temperature Can withstand moderately saline conditions

6. Land preparation and sowing : Ploughed land is exposed to sun for 2-3 weeks Fine tilth is made and sowing @5kgs/ha Treatment of seeds before sowing with fungicides ( Thiram,Captan @ 2.5g/kg ) to prevent damping off Seed – Seed distance 30-40 cms in line sowing Optimum seed depth is 1.5-2 cms L ight irrigation is needed at the time of germination and establishment

7. Usually two sowings are done in Tirunelveli tract one during February March and the second one during July- November. Germination commences in 13 days of sowing and is over in another one week. The seed has a thick coat and can remain in field in hot weather without any injury but sprouted seed can seldom withstand the lack of soil moisture and usually dies. Crop is thinned at 30 days to maintain a plant to plant distance of 30cms in a row.

8. Nutrient management and irrigation : 20 to 25 tonns /ha of FYM is used before sowing N : P : K is 52-100 : 20-50 : 20 40 kgs of N and 50 kgs of P is used at the time of sowing and rest of N at 35,85 and 110 DAS in equal doses Avg. Rainfall of 35 to 40 cm in June to Oct is sufficient Irrigation is done at 40, 75 and 100 DAS when plant bears new growth of foliage and flowers Weeding is practiced at 25,75 and 110 DAS

9. Harvesting : Young senna leaves have high sennoside content but seeds do not First harvest is done at 50-70 DAS depending upon plant growth Second harvest is done at 90-100 DAS and third at 130 to 150 DAS Its root bark also contains sennoside but not use for trade Harvested crop is spread in thin layer in an open area to reduce moisture and furthur drying in well ventilated drying shed for 3 to 5 days having 8% moisture Proper drying causes light green to greenish yellow and improper drying causes brown black color

10. Good yield is 1500kgs/ha of dry leaves and 700 kgs / hac of dry pods under irrigated condition Yield decreases to 1000kgs/ha and 400kgs/ha in rainfed conditions. Leaf spot and leaf blight is caused by Cercospora spp. 0.15 % of Diathane M45 is spread 3 times within 6 weeks to control this.

11. Extraction of Sennosides :