Chemical Properties
Light yellow powder
Uses
a natural anthroquinonone glucoside calcium complex with laxative properties
Uses
Sennoside A is used as a laxative in the treatment of constipation. In addition. it is hypothesized to induce cell proliferation and may be a potential carcinogenic agent.
Definition
ChEBI: Sennoside A is a member of the class of sennosides that is rel-(9R,9'R)-9,9',10,10'-tetrahydro-9,9'-bianthracene-2,2'-dicarboxylic acid which is substituted by hydroxy groups at positions 4 and 4', by beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy groups at positions 5 and 5', and by oxo groups at positions 10 and 10'. The exact stereochemisty at positions 9 and 9' is not known - it may be R,R (as shown) or S,S. It is a member of sennosides and an oxo dicarboxylic acid.
Purification Methods
Sennoside A (bianthraquinonyl-bis-glucoside R,R-enantiomer) [81-27-6] M 862.7, m 220 -2 4 0o(dec), [ ] D -164o (c 0.1, Me2CO/H2O 6:4), [ ] D -24o (c 0.2, 70% aqueous dioxane). Sennoside A forms yellow crystals from aqueous acetone, 2-ethoxyethanol or large volumes of H2O. [Stoll et al. Helv Chim Acta 32 1896 1900, Beilstein 17 III/IV 3403.]