Laxative anthraquinone contents in fresh and cooked Senna siamea leaves

Sakulpanich et al., 2009 | Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health | Other

Citation

Sakulpanich Aurapa, Gritsanapan Wandee. Laxative anthraquinone contents in fresh and cooked Senna siamea leaves. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2009-Jul;40(4):835-9

Abstract

This study determined the contents of total anthraquinone glycosides in Senna siamea, which are active laxative form, and total anthraquinones in the fresh young leaves, the boiled leaves, and the boiled filtrates by a UV-vis spectrophotometric method. Total anthraquinone glycosides and total anthraquinones, calculated as rhein, in the fresh young leaves were 0.0523 and 0.0910% w/w, respectively. The first and second boiled filtrates contained total anthraquinone glycosides 0.0334 and 0.0031% fresh weight, respectively. The first boiled leaves contained 0.0161% fresh weight and the second boiled leaves contained non-detected amount. Total anthraquinones contents in the first and second filtrates and the first and second boiled leaves were found to be 0.0721, 0.0069, 0.0167% fresh weight and non-detected amount, respectively. The results showed that the process of preparation of khi lek curry by boiling S. siamea young leaves twice with water reduced total anthraquinone glycosides content more than 75%. This confirms the traditional use of khi lek curry as a very mild laxative drug.

Key Findings

This confirms the traditional use of khi lek curry as a very mild laxative drug.

Outcomes Measured

• Requires manual extraction

Population

MeSH Terms

• Anthraquinones
• Humans
• Laxatives
• Plant Leaves
• Senna Plant
• Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Evidence Classification

• Level: Other
• Publication Types: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
• Vertical: senna

Provenance

• PMID: 19842421
• DOI: (not available)
• PMCID: Not in PMC
• Verified: 2026-04-12 via PubMed E-utilities API

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-12