Monograph: Senna

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This monograph is intended to serve as a guide to industry for the preparation of Product Licence Applications (PLA) and labels for natural health product market authorization. It is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the medicinal ingredient. It is a referenced document to be used as a labelling standard. Note: (i) Text in parentheses is additional optional information which can be included on the PLA and product labels at the applicants' discretion. The solidus (/) indicates that the terms are synonyms or that the statements are synonymous. Either term or statement may be selected by the applicant. (ii) Claims for traditional use must include the term "Herbal Medicine".
Date: 2018-12-18

NHPID name

Senna alexandrina ( Germplasm Resources Information Network Taxonomy )

Proper name(s)

Senna alexandrina ( USDA 2008 )

Common name(s)

Source material

Route Of administration

Oral

Dosage form(s)

Use(s) or purpose(s)

Statement(s) to the effect of:

Dose(s)

Adults:

Dose(s):

1 Day per day

Directions for use:
  • Allow at least 6 to 12 hours for laxative effect to occur.
  • Take a few hours before or after taking other medications or natural health products.
  • Take a single dose at bedtime.
  • Take two to three times per week. If results are not observed, the frequency of use may be increased up to once daily.
  • The correct individual dose is the smallest required to produce a soft-formed stool.

Duration of use

Consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician for use beyond 7 days.  (Berardi et al. 2002)

Risk information

Statement(s) to the effect of:

Caution(s) and Warning(s): Contraindication(s): Known Adverse Reaction(s): Stop use if hypersensitivity/allergy occurs.  (EMEA 2007b)

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural health products ingredients database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Specifications

References cited

References reviewed

Appendix 1: Examples of dosage preparations, frequencies of use and directions for use

Dried fruit/pod and/or leaf/leaflet:

Infusion: 0.6-2 g dried fruits/pods or leaf, per day (Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Directions for use:
Pour 150 ml of warm or hot water over dried fruit/pods or leaf/leaflet and infuse for 10-30 minutes (Blumenthal et al. 2000).

Fluid extract:

Tincture:

0.75 to 3 g dried equivalent, per day (1:2, 1.5-6 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)

Preparations providing the following quantities of hydroxyanthracene derivatives (calculated as sennoside B):