Update: Biological and Chemical Aspects of Senna spectabilis

Abstract

Senna spectabilis (syn Cassia spectabilis) is one of the most important species within the Fabaceae family, natively found in Central and South America, as well as parts of Asia and Africa. Due to the extensive geographical distribution, this fast-growing tree produces a wide variety of bioactive secondary metabolites, being of special interest for chemical and pharmacological studies. Phytochemical investigations have shown that S. spectabilis produces over 40 constituents from different biosynthetic pathways, including piperidine alkaloids, pentacyclic terpenoids and anthraquinones, displaying antiproliferative, antitumoral and antifungal activities. Moreover, studies have also been conducted to identify endophytic and rizhospheric microorganisms associated to S. spectabilis and their chemical composition, enabling further elucidation of cadinane sesquiterpenoids, cytochalasins, depsipeptides and dibenzopirones. This review aims to provide an updated summary of the main features of S. spectabilis, compiling all currently available information on the chemical and pharmacological composition of its parts and its associated microorganisms.

Prospecção Fitoquímica e Análise da Atividade Antimicrobiana e Moduladora in Vitro do Extrato Hidroalcoólico das Folhas de Senna spectabilis

“…Estudos fitoquímicos apontam o isolamento de mais de 350 compostos provenientes do gênero Senna, sendo 40 metabólitos secundários da Senna spectabilis, tais como: alcalóides piperidínicos, triterpenos pentacíclicos, esteróides, pironas, antraquinonas, flavonoides, entre outros, várias ações estão ligadas aos alcalóides de piperidina, estes constituem os principais componentes de folhas, flores e frutos verdes (SELEGATO et al, 2017).…”

A Review of Recent Studies on the Antioxidant and Anti-Infectious Properties of Senna Plants

“…These glands secreting nectar can draw insects like ants that eat the nectar thus protecting the plant from the herbivores [20]. The fruits of Senna are long, enlarged, and tubular/cylindric, with the pods having 25-32 cm size, and the colour is black that has brown seeds equipped with pleurogram [11].…”

“…H.S.Irwin & Barneby. These phytochemicals majorly included classes of pentacyclic triterpenes and piperidine alkaloids displaying health-promoting properties [11]. Many of the parts such as leaves, pods, roots, and fruits of the natural plants have beneficial pharmacological properties against diseases.…”

“…S. spectabilis is one of plant widely studied and reported. Selegato et al [11] have reviewed the chemical aspects of S. spectabilis. Silva et al [146] isolated caffeine, lupeol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, cycloeucalenol, friedelin, ursolic, oleanolic, and betulinic acids, sitosterol, and stigmasterol and their respective glucosides from the leaves.…”

Estudio fitoquímico y evaluación de la capacidad antioxidante de flores de Senna spectabilis obtenidas en la región andina colombiana

“…Por otra parte, la corriente iónica total (TIC) del análisis por CG-EM arrojó una señal de alta intensidad en un tiempo de retención de 12.741 min, tras la comparación de los espectros de masas de la respectiva señal con los de la librería NIST-08 que fue identificada como cafeína con un 97 % de coincidencia. La cafeína ha sido reportada en la familia Aquifoliaceae, en las hojas de las especies Ilex paraguariensis e Ilex guayusa, que es usado en América del sur como brebaje para controlar afecciones estomacales (Seigler, 2002). En la especie Senna spectabilis se ha reportado la presencia de cafeína en el extracto etanólico de hojas, tallo y raíces (Selegato et al, 2017).…”