Senna alata is an important Neotropicalmedicinal tree, as well as an ornamental flowering plant in the subfamilyCaesalpinioideae. It also known as emperor's candlesticks, candle bush, candelabra bush, Christmas candles, empress candle plant, ringworm shrub, Roman candle, or candletree. A remarkable species of Senna, it was sometimes separated in its own genus, Herpetica.
Geographic range
Senna alata is native to most of the Neotropics (from Mexico and the West Indies to Paraguay), and can be found in diverse habitats. In the tropics, it grows up to an altitude of 1,200 metres (3,900ft). It is brought over to Malesia of the Old World by the Spanishgalleon trade in Manila 16th century; however they have been adapted in communities of the southeast Asian, North Australian and African ranges with greater ornamental and medicinal values.
It is so naturalized in the Malay Peninsula (known in Malay: gelenggang) that its blooming from mid November-December there has become incorporated in the Kedahan traditional rice planting cycle (piama) as a marker of its beginning dry season.
The shrub stands 3–4 metres (9.8–13.1ft) tall, with leaves 50–80 centimetres (20–31in) long.
The leaves close in the dark.
The inflorescence looks like a yellow candle.
The fruit, shaped like a straight pod, is up to 25cm long. Its seeds are distributed by water or animals.
The seed pods (fruits) are nearly straight, dark brown or nearly black, about 15 centimetres (5.9in) long, and 15 millimetres (0.59in) wide. On both sides of the pods is a wing that runs the length of the pod. A pod contains 50 to 60 flattened, triangular seeds.
Senna alata (also known as Cassia alata) is often called the ringworm bush because of its very effective fungicidal properties, for treating ringworm and other fungal infections of the skin. The leaves are ground in a mortar to obtain a kind of "green cotton wool". This is mixed with the same amount of vegetable oil and rubbed on the affected area two or three times a day. A fresh preparation is made every day. Its active ingredients include the yellow chrysophanic acid.
Its laxative effect, due to its anthraquinone content, is also well proven.
Senna alata is locally known as akapulko in the Philippines (after the port of Acapulco) where it is used as both an ornamental and medicinal plant due to its laxative, purgative and anti-fungal properties.
In Sri Lanka, known as Ath-thora (ඇත්තෝර), it is used as an ingredient in Sinhala traditional medicine.
↑Rahimah A. Hamid (2010). "Piama dan petua tradisi: Ilmu menanam padi masyarakat Melayu di utara semenanjung Malaysia". SARI: Jurnal Alam dan Tamadun Melayu. 28 (2). Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia: 211–233. ISSN0127-2721.
↑HIRT, Dr Hans Martin, & Bindanda M'Pia (2008) Natural Medicine in the Tropics I: Foundation text. anamed, Winnenden, Germany
↑Madrid, Carlos (2020). "Transpacific Maritime Networks and the Manila-Acapulco Galleons, 1565–1815". More Hispanic Than We Admit. Vol.3 (Quincentennialed.). Academica Filipina. p.303.
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