Senega is a perennial herb native to North America that is cultivated for its root and rootstock, which are dried and used medicinally. The root has a grayish-brown color, sweet then acrid taste, and elongated tapering shape with a tufted crown. It contains several compounds including senegin, polygalic acid, and triterpenoid saponins. Senega root is used as a stimulant, expectorant for bronchitis, and diuretic for renal dropsy. Preparations include senega syrup and liquid extract.

1. Senega

2. SYNONYM: Milkwort, Rattlesnake root, Senega root, Snake root
B.S.: It consist of dried root and root stock of Polygala senega Linn.
Family: Polygalaceae (Polygala, means 'much milk,‘)
• Geographical Source: It is indigeneous to Minnesota in U.S.A. and
Estern Canada. Presently the drug is mainly obtained from cultiveted
species in Japan.

3. • Cultivation & Collection: This perennial herb, about a foot high,
grows throughout central and western North America, in woods, and
on dry, rocky soil.
• Propagated through seed or rootstock.
• Plant is allowed to grow for 4 years during root become well establish
end of required size.
• Flowring during May-July.
• After 4 years harvesting is done in summer season.
• Root and rhizomes are collected in September and October.
• Morphology:
• Color: grayish to brownish yellow
• Odour: methyl salisylate
• Taste: first sweet then acrid
• Shape: root exihibits a peculiar shape as an alongated tapering root &
bearing tufted crown.

4. • Size: 5 – 10 cm in length & 2-10 mm diameter The leaves are small
alternate, and narrowly lanceolate, and the numerous, small pinky-
white flowers are crowded on to a narrow.
• The root is twisted and has an irregular, knotty crown with a distinctive
ridge.
• Root: thickness upper part: 3-6 mm
• crown: 1-1.5 cm height & 1-2 cm width
• Root is either simple or in 2-3 branches, divide just below the crown.
• Senega root shows a keel with a sharp spiral porton tapering
downwords.
• Root has smooth and splintery fracture.

5. • CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:
• Contain senegin (4%) polygalic Acid (5.5%) , triterpenoid saponin up to
12 % .
• On hydolysis give senegenin, senegic Acid and Presenegin( senegin II).
• Sweet test of drug due to poligalitol (1,6 anhydrosorbitol).
• Odour is due to small amount of methyl salicylate which is result th
breckdown of some unknown glycoside.
• Also contain fixed oil & sterol.
• Not contain starch
• USES:
• Stimulant & expectorant
• Treatment of chronic bronchitis, but prescribed with common expectorant
• Large dose cause vomiting
• As diuretic in renal dropsy
• Used in pleurisy and pneumonia

6. • TYPICAL PREPARATIONS
• Senega syrup: senega 10 % alcohol, sucrose, water
• Senega liq. Extract: prepared with alcohol and alkaline with ammonia
• Infusion: first alcohol then slight alkaline with ammonia
Chemical test:
Sodium picret test: A strip of filter paper is dipped in 10% aq. Solution of
picric Acid. Its drained and redipped in sodium carbonate solution and
redrain. Powder drug in flask, water for moisten it sodium picret paper kept
mouth of flask with cork. Hydrocyanic acid vapour turn paper brick red or
marron color
Allied Drug:
1) Indian Senega
2) Spurious Indian senega
3) White senega
4) Japanese senegas