Sennoside

Industrial Production

Source

• Sennosides are anthraquinone glycosides extracted mainly from plants of the genus Senna, such as Senna alexandrina and Senna obtusifolia.

  

  illustration of Senna alexandrina

Extraction Process

• Harvesting: Leaves and pods are harvested and dried.

• Extraction: Typically involves aqueous or alcoholic extraction to solubilize sennosides.

• Isolation: Techniques like liquid-liquid extraction and chromatography (e.g., silica gel chromatography) are used to isolate sennosides A and B.

• Purification: Crystallization or further chromatographic steps ensure high purity.

Alternative Production

Biotechnological Methods: Research into microbial synthesis is ongoing but not yet commercially viable.

Estimation of Sennoside

Analytical Techniques

• HPLC: The standard method for quantifying sennosides due to its accuracy and sensitivity.

• UV-Visible Spectroscopy: Utilized for detection based on characteristic absorbance.

• Mass Spectrometry (MS): Provides precise molecular identification.

• Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC): Used for qualitative analysis and purity checks.

Utilization

Pharmacological Applications

• Laxatives: Sennosides are potent stimulant laxatives used to treat constipation by inducing colonic peristalsis.

• Diagnostic Tool: Utilized in medical diagnostics to assess colonic function.

Other Uses

• Traditional Medicine: Employed in various traditional medicinal systems for digestive health.

• Research: Used in studies related to intestinal motility and colon health.