This document provides information on the leaves of Datura and Senna plants. It describes the biological and geographical sources, morphological characteristics, chemical constituents, standards of quality, and uses. The Datura leaf contains tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine and atropine. It is used to treat asthma, cough, motion sickness, and ulcers. The Senna leaf contains anthraquinone glycosides and is used as a purgative. Both leaves are used medicinally due to their active chemical constituents.

1. L E A F (DATURA ,
S E N NA)

2. Datura (Leaf )
Synonyms :-Dhatura
Biological Source :- It consists of dried leaves of Datura metel Linn and other species
of Datura, belonging to family Solanaceae.
Geographical source:- It is found in India, England and other topical and subtropical
regions.
Morphological characteristics:-
• The drug has a characteristic but unpleasant odour and a bitter taste.
• The drug contains entire , broken wrinkled , crushed leaves along with stem
fragments and floral parts.
• The entire leaf has length of 9 – 18 cm and width of 8 – 13 cm.

3. • The leaf is covered with minute hairs , lower
surface is slightly pale in colour and the leaf
has a thin texture.
• The leaf is unequal at the base with acute
apex and glabrous lamina.
• Each leaf has 3-4 coarse veins on each side
and 4-6 secondary veins on either side of the
midrib.
• Flowers are reddish-purple on outer side and
whitish on inner side.
• Flowers are funnel shaped with pedicel which
is never erect.
• The stems as well as branches of drug are
purple coloured.

4. • The epidermal cells of both sides
show anisocytic stomata.
• The cells are covered with thin
cuticle and glandular and non-
glandular simple trichomes.
• 40% of lamina is occupied by single
layer of palisade cells.
• Approximately 6-8 layers of spongy
parenchymatous cells are present.
• Midrib shows vascular tissue with
protoxylem and metaxylem.
• Stomatal index is 12.7 – 19.5 for
upper surface and 21.2 -24 for
lower surface.
• Palisade ratio is 3.5 -6.5
• Spongy parenchyma contains
calcium oxalate crystal.

6. Chemical Constituents
• Datura Leaf contains tropane alkaloids (up to 0.5%), Hyoscyamine , atropine
,hyoscine.
Standards of quality :-
Stems, fruits,flowers – Not more than 20%
Foreign organic matter – Not more than 2%
Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 4%
Uses :-
Alkaloid hyoscine are parasympatholytic with anticholinergic and CNS depressent
effects.
It also used in treatment of asthma and cough.
Hyoscine hydrobromide is used in motion sickness, gastric or ulcers.

7. Senna(Leaf )
Synonyms:- Senna Leaf ,Cassia Senna.
Biological source:- It consists of dried leaflets of Cassia angustifolia or cassia Senna
vahl belonging to family Leguminosae.
Geographical source:- Indian Senna is cultivated in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh,
Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Macroscopic Characters:- Colour:- Yellowish – green
Odour – slight
Taste- Mucilaginous, bitter and characteristic
Size- 7 to 8 mm in width and 25 to 60 mm in length.
Shape – Leaves are lanceolate.

10. Chemical Constituents
• Senna Leaf contains anthraquinone Glycosides ( about 2.5%) , of which sennoside A
and sennoside B are major.
Uses:- It is used in purgative,