Senna occidentalis 望江南

POISONOUS PARTS

Whole plant, especially the seeds.^4,5

TOXICITY

• Toxic Constituents

  Major toxins are unidentified. Other toxins: anthraquinones such as chrysophanol, emodin and physcion; toxalbumins.^4–7

• Toxic Dose

  Seeds in 2 pods (about 10 seeds) can be toxic.^4,6

• Mechanism

  The exact mechanism for the major toxic features remains unidentified. Anthraquinones have purgative effect.^4,6

• Poisoning Features

  Vomiting, diarrhoea, drowsiness, irritability and confusion. Myopathy, liver failure, coma and death in severe cases.^4,6,8

• Poisoning Events

  Multiple cases of S. occidentalis poisoning after accidental intake of seeds in children have been reported in India. In a report, 4 out of 6 children died.⁶

CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

Supportive treatment.

IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

Erect subshrubs, 0.8–1.5 m tall; branches herbaceous, angled. Leaves about 20 cm long; with a large, brownish, conical gland near the base of petiole; leaflets 4–5 pairs, membranous, 4–9 × 2–3.5 cm. Corymbose racemes. Petals 5, yellow, 1.5–2 × 0.9–1.5 cm. Pods 10–13 × 0.8–0.9 cm, 30–40-seeded.⁹

MEDICINAL USES

Uses in TCM—branches and leaves: regulate the lung, clear the liver, induce diuresis, relieve constipation, harmonise the stomach function, disperse swelling and remove toxin; seeds: clear the liver and improve vision, invigorate the stomach, relieve constipation, remove toxin. Recommended dose: branches and leaves 6–9 g, seeds 6–9 g.^2,10,11

LABORATORY ANALYSIS

Anthraquinones can be detected by HPLC-DAD, GC-MS and LC-MS/MS.^12–14