ISSN (Online) : 2277-4572
Author(s): Malviya Reeta*, Sharma Ravindra
India has an ancient history of the use of plants in the indigenous system of medicine dating back to over 5000 years. It has been estimated that over 8000 plants are used in traditional, folk and herbal medicine, Senna occidentalis Linn (Caesalpiniaceae), a perennial plant of southern India, is an Ayurvedic plant which is used in several traditional medicines to cure various diseases. The parts of the plant used are roots, leaves and seeds. Leaves of S. occidentalis plant have ethno medicinal importance like paste of leaves is externally applied on healing wounds, sores, itch, cutaneous diseases, bone fracture, ringworm, skin diseases and throat infection. The plant is used for fever, menstrual problems, tuberculosis, diuretic anaemic, liver complaints, and as a tonic for general weakness and illness and is also reported to cure leprosy. An infusion of the plant bark is given by the folklore in diabetes. Hence this paper is an attempt to bring this effective drug to lime light by describing palliative, therapeutic and other uses of Senna occidentalis Linn.
