Senna

Last Updated: November 18 2022

Senna alexandrinais a plant containing sennosides, which are laxatives. Nothing more special about Senna root or Sennosides, they just are very effective at clearing your bowels and are at a level of potency where they are sometimes given before a colonoscopy.

dosageDosage
examine-databaseExamine Database

Senna is most often used for

What else is Senna known as?
Note that Senna is also known as:
  • Senna Alexandrina
  • Daio
  • Senna Alexandrina
Dosage information

In accordance with clinical usage, the correct dose is the "lowest dose required to produce the desired effects (soft-formed and comfortable stool)". This is either 1-2g of the powdered extract or fruit usually standardized to 10-30mg active Sennosides.

Higher doses are used only if the aforementioned lower dose is not effective (it should be noted that senna alexandria is a delayed laxative unlike the immediate effects of caffeine and it may take a few hours to assess whether a dose is effective or not).

Senna alexandria tends to be taken prior to bed in order to time its laxative effect with a morning bowel movement.

Join our supplement information course

Examine Database: Senna
What works and what doesn't?

Unlock the full potential of Examine

Get started

Don't miss out on the latest research

References
3.^Li H, Wang J, Qu Y, Xiao XAnalysis on changes of purgative biopotency in different processed products of rhubarbZhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi.(2012 Feb)
7.^Mena-Rejón GJ, Pérez-Rivas K, Sansorez-Peraza P, Rios T, Quijano LRacemochrysone, a dihydroanthracenone from Senna racemosaZ Naturforsch C.(2002 Sep-Oct)
9.^Franz GThe senna drug and its chemistryPharmacology.(1993 Oct)
11.^Goppel M, Franz GStability control of senna leaves and senna extractsPlanta Med.(2004 May)
12.^Lemli JMetabolism of sennosides--an overviewPharmacology.(1988)
13.^Matsumoto M, Ishige A, Yazawa Y, Kondo M, Muramatsu K, Watanabe KPromotion of intestinal peristalsis by Bifidobacterium spp. capable of hydrolysing sennosides in micePLoS One.(2012)
14.^Akao T, Che QM, Kobashi K, Yang L, Hattori M, Namba TIsolation of a human intestinal anaerobe, Bifidobacterium sp. strain SEN, capable of hydrolyzing sennosides to sennidinsAppl Environ Microbiol.(1994 Mar)
15.^de Witte PMetabolism and pharmacokinetics of anthranoidsPharmacology.(1993 Oct)
17.^Godding EWLaxatives and the special role of sennaPharmacology.(1988)
19.^Mengs U, Mitchell J, McPherson S, Gregson R, Tigner JA 13-week oral toxicity study of senna in the rat with an 8-week recovery periodArch Toxicol.(2004 May)
20.^Hallmann FToxicity of commonly used laxativesMed Sci Monit.(2000 May-Jun)
21.^Morales MA, Hernández D, Bustamante S, Bachiller I, Rojas AIs senna laxative use associated to cathartic colon, genotoxicity, or carcinogenicityJ Toxicol.(2009)
22.^Mukhopadhyay MJ, Saha A, Dutta A, De B, Mukherjee AGenotoxicity of sennosides on the bone marrow cells of miceFood Chem Toxicol.(1998 Nov)
24.^Sandnes D, Johansen T, Teien G, Ulsaker GMutagenicity of crude senna and senna glycosides in Salmonella typhimuriumPharmacol Toxicol.(1992 Sep)
25.^Westendorf J, Marquardt H, Poginsky B, Dominiak M, Schmidt J, Marquardt HGenotoxicity of naturally occurring hydroxyanthraquinonesMutat Res.(1990 Jan)
26.^Heidemann A, Miltenburger HG, Mengs UThe genotoxicity status of sennaPharmacology.(1993 Oct)
27.^Mori H, Yoshimi N, Iwata H, Mori Y, Hara A, Tanaka T, Kawai KCarcinogenicity of naturally occurring 1-hydroxyanthraquinone in rats: induction of large bowel, liver and stomach neoplasmsCarcinogenesis.(1990 May)
28.^Mitchell JM, Mengs U, McPherson S, Zijlstra J, Dettmar P, Gregson R, Tigner JCAn oral carcinogenicity and toxicity study of senna (Tinnevelly senna fruits) in the ratArch Toxicol.(2006 Jan)
29.^Lydén-Sokolowski A, Nilsson A, Sjöberg PTwo-year carcinogenicity study with sennosides in the rat: emphasis on gastro-intestinal alterationsPharmacology.(1993 Oct)