Aloe-emodin senna

Genotoxicity tests were performed with senna fruit, senna leaf extract, sennosides, rhein, and aloe-emodin. Senna fruit, sennosides, and rhein did not increase mutation frequencies in the following test systems bacterial systems, mammalian cell culture tests, mouse lymphoma test, chromosome aberration test with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, bone marrow micronucleus test, chromosome aberration tests, and melanoblast cell test. With aloe-emodin, mutagenic effects were observed only in vitro in the chromosome aberration test with CHO cells and in the Salmonella reverse mutation test. In the in vitro gene mutation test with V79 cells, no mutagenic potential of aloe-emodin was observed. In vivo studies indicated no mutagenic activity of aloe-emodin, and aloe-emodin did not induce unscheduled DNA synthesis in an ex vivo assay performed with hepato-cytes of male rats (Heidemann et al. 1993). 

N.A. Cassia senna L. Anthraquinone, beta-sitosterol, rhein, dianthrone glucosides, sennosides A, sennosides B, naphthalene glycosides, aloe-emodine, mucilage.99 100 Laxative, stimulant, cathartic, anticancer, cathartic. 

Krumbiegel G, Schulz HU. Rhein and aloe-emodin kinetics from senna laxatives in man. Pharmacology 1993 (Suppl 1) 120-4. 

The primary active ingredients of cascara sagrada include cascarosides A, B, C, and D, but barbaloin, chrysaloin, chryophanol, emodin, and aloe-emodin are also present (Tyler, 1994 Anonymous, 1996). The anthrone glucofrangulin is present in the cortex of the European species Rhamni frangula (De Witte, 1993). As with senna and aloe constituents, these anthrones produce an active secretion of water and electrolytes within the lumen of the small intestine. In addition, the anthrones inhibit absorption of water and electrolytes from the large intestine. This causes an increase in the volume of bowel contents, and strengthens the dilatation pressure in the intestine to stimulate peristalsis (Anonymous, 1996). 

No elevated levels of micronuclei in bone marrow cells were observed in mice orally administered 2 g/kg of a senna extract (equivalent to 119 mg/kg rhein, 5.74 mg/kg aloe-emodin, and 0.28 mg/kg emodin) (Mengs et al. 1999). 

The related sennosides, glycosides A, B, C and D, occur in amounts of 1.5-3% in the leaves of Egyptian senna shrubs that are cultivated primarily in India. Senna leaves were previously used by Arab physicians as a laxative drug and digestive stimulant. Heterobianthrones sennosides A (meso-derivative, 9-169) and B (trans-derivative, 9-170) are bianthrone glycosides derived from aloe-emodin and rhein, homobianthrones sennosides C meso-derivative) and D (tra s-derivative) are derived only from rhein. 

Senna leaves also contain small amounts of free anthraquinones (rhein, aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, etc.) and their O-glycosides and C-glycosides. - " ... 

Emodin cathartics Cascara sagrada Senna Rhubarb Aloe... 

Castor oil is broken down in the small intestine to ricinoleic acid, which is very irritating to the gut and promptly increases peristalsis. Cascara, senna, and aloe contain emodin which stimulates colonic activity. Onset of activity is delayed 6 to 8 hr because emodin is excreted into the colon after these agents are absorbed. Emodin may pass into breast milk. Phenolphthalein and bisacodyl are also potent stimulants of the colon. Adverse effects include abdominal cramps and the potential for atonic colon with prolonged use. 

The main anthraquinone-containing plants are cascara sagrada Rhamnus purshiana), senna, rhubarb, aloes, dock and St John s wort. Rheum-emodin is a typical simple anthraquinone from rhubarb root Rheum palmatum). 

---