European Medicines Agency Evaluation of Medicines for Human Use London, 27 April 2007 Doc. Ref. EMEA/HMPC/51868/2006 Corr. COMMITTEE ON HERBAL MEDICINAL PRODUCTS (HMPC) ASSESSMENT REPORT ON CASSIA SENNA L. AND CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIA VAHL, FOLIUM Herbal substance Cassia senna L. (C. acutifolia Delile) [Alexandrian or Khartoum senna] or Cassia angustifolia Vahl [Tinnevelly senna], folium (senna leaf) or a mixture of the two species Herbal preparation dried leaflets, standardised; standardised herbal preparations thereof Pharmaceutical forms Herbal substance for oral preparation Rapporteur Dr C. Werner Assessor Dr B. Merz Superseded 7 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4HB, UK Tel. (44-20) 74 18 84 00 Fax (44-20) 75 23 70 51 E-mail:
[email protected] http://www.emea.europa.eu ©EMEA 2007 Reproduction and/or distribution of this document is authorised for non commercial purposes only provided the EMEA is acknowledged TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction 3 II. Clinical Pharmacology 3 II.1 Pharmacokinetics 3 II.1.1 Phytochemical characterisation 3 II.1.2 Absorption, metabolism and excretion 4 II.1.3 Progress of action 5 II.2 Pharmacodynamics 5 II.2.1 Mode of action 5 • Laxative effect 5 II.2.2 Interactions 7 III. Clinical Efficacy 7 III.1 Dosage 7 III.2 Clinical studies 8 III.2.1 Constipation 8 III.2.2 Irritable bowel syndrome 10 III.2.3 Bowel cleansing 11 III.3 Clinical studies in special populations 15 III.3.1 Use in children 15 III.3.2 Use during pregnancy and lactation 16 III.4 Traditional use 17 IV.