Global Ingredient Risk Index Botanical

Senna

Senna alexandrina (Cassia senna)

Also known as: alexandrian senna, tinnevelly senna, cassia senna, sennosides

25 მარ 2026

HIGH RISK 7.5/10 How?

This ingredient is classified as unclassified risk (GIRI score: 7.5/10).

Known Safety Concerns

Chronic use: cathartic colon, laxative dependency
Electrolyte depletion -- hypokalemia, cardiac risk
Hepatotoxicity with chronic use
Frequently misused in weight-loss products
Contraindicated in IBD, intestinal obstruction
FDA warnings for senna-containing supplement products

Contraindications

Chronic use: cathartic colon, laxative dependency
Electrolyte depletion -- hypokalemia, cardiac risk

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Information not yet available for this ingredient profile.

Senna is an anthraquinone stimulant laxative approved for short-term constipation. Chronic use causes cathartic colon syndrome, electrolyte depletion (hypokalemia), and hepatotoxicity. Popular in weight-loss supplements and detox teas — frequently misrepresented. FDA has warned about senna in dietary supplements.

Scientific Name: Senna alexandrina (Cassia senna)

Information not yet available for this ingredient profile.

SETI Score 50/100

Risk Level High risk

Scientific Confidence Low

Evidence Strength Limited

Key Benefit Botanical

Key Safety Concern Chronic use: cathartic colon, laxative dependency

Evidence Reviewed 10 PubMed studies

Scientific Confidence Low

Based on study quality, consistency, and recency

Executive Summary — Ingredient Assessment

SETI Score 50/100

Risk Level High risk

Evidence Strength Limited

Main Benefit Botanical

Main Safety Concern Chronic use: cathartic colon, laxative dependency

Ingredient Senna

Scientific name Senna alexandrina (Cassia senna)

Scientific Evidence Overview

10 studies reviewed
0 high-quality studies (meta-analysis or RCT)
Main clinical benefit observed: Botanical
Evidence consistency: High consistency across studies (100%)

Safety Signals

Chronic use: cathartic colon, laxative dependency
Electrolyte depletion -- hypokalemia, cardiac risk
Hepatotoxicity with chronic use
Frequently misused in weight-loss products
Contraindicated in IBD, intestinal obstruction

Evidence Strength Limited

Final Scientific Assessment

The available scientific evidence for Senna indicates notable safety signals that warrant caution. Use should be considered carefully and monitored, particularly in sensitive populations or alongside other medications.

Ingredient Senna

Evidence reviewed 10 peer-reviewed studies (last 10 years)

Scientific name Senna alexandrina (Cassia senna)

50 /100

Total SETI Score

High risk

Evidence quality	10/40
Evidence consistency	20/20
Safety signals	0/20
Study recency	10/10
Evidence transparency	10/10

Evidence Summary

10 studies reviewed
0 high-quality studies (meta-analysis or systematic review)
0 studies identified benefits or no safety concern (GREEN)
10 studies reported limited or advisory safety evidence (YELLOW)

Evidence Policy

Only peer-reviewed scientific literature indexed in PubMed or comparable databases is included in this evaluation. Commercial websites, blogs, and marketing materials are excluded. All references include direct traceable links to source documents.

Last updated: 25 მარ 2026, 22:41

Evidence Distribution

10 Other / unclassified

Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Adding Senna alkaloid to laxative agents in bowel preparation for pediatric colonoscopy: a clinical trial study. ↗

PMID 41866261 ↗

Journal Arab J Gastroenterol

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41866261/

Mahdavi Mortazavi SM et al.. Adding Senna alkaloid to laxative agents in bowel preparation for pediatric colonoscopy: a clinical trial study.. Arab J Gastroenterol. 2026. PMID:41866261.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Laxative use and acute kidney injury risk: Analysis of a Japanese hospital-based database. ↗

PMID 41806409 ↗

Journal J Pharmacol Exp Ther

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41806409/

Mitsuboshi S et al.. Laxative use and acute kidney injury risk: Analysis of a Japanese hospital-based database.. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2026. PMID:41806409.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Inter-Laboratory Comparison of Photometric and LC Assay Methods for Hydroxyanthracene Glycosides Determination in Senna Herbal Drugs and Dry Extracts. ↗

PMID 41802773 ↗

Journal Planta Med

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41802773/

Peter S et al.. Inter-Laboratory Comparison of Photometric and LC Assay Methods for Hydroxyanthracene Glycosides Determination in Senna Herbal Drugs and Dry Extracts.. Planta Med. 2026. PMID:41802773.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Towards an attract-and-kill strategy for sustainable tick control: combined effects of Metarhizium anisopliae and phytochemical attractants from Senna didymobotrya against Amblyomma variegatum… ↗

PMID 41792543 ↗

Journal Exp Appl Acarol

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41792543/

Kinyua DW et al.. Towards an attract-and-kill strategy for sustainable tick control: combined effects of Metarhizium anisopliae and phytochemical attractants from Senna didymobotrya against Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus.. Exp Appl Acarol. 2026. PMID:41792543.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
The anti-obesity potential of Cassiae Semen: A review based on ethnopharmacology and modern pharmacology. ↗

PMID 41791619 ↗

Journal J Ethnopharmacol

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41791619/

Ye Y. The anti-obesity potential of Cassiae Semen: A review based on ethnopharmacology and modern pharmacology.. J Ethnopharmacol. 2026. PMID:41791619.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Phytosociological analysis and floristic composition of fabaceae species assessing human impact and edaphic variables. ↗

PMID 41786781 ↗

Journal Sci Rep

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41786781/

Majeed M et al.. Phytosociological analysis and floristic composition of fabaceae species assessing human impact and edaphic variables.. Sci Rep. 2026. PMID:41786781.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Dataset on MatK chloroplast gene sequences of five underutilized nigerian native legume species. ↗

PMID 41783791 ↗

Journal Data Brief

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41783791/

Olaoluwa FD et al.. Dataset on MatK chloroplast gene sequences of five underutilized nigerian native legume species.. Data Brief. 2026. PMID:41783791.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Jiawei YigongSan improves gastric motility and is associated with modulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling and autophagy in a rat model of functional dyspepsia. ↗

PMID 41713812 ↗

Journal J Ethnopharmacol

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41713812/

Wang X et al.. Jiawei YigongSan improves gastric motility and is associated with modulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling and autophagy in a rat model of functional dyspepsia.. J Ethnopharmacol. 2026. PMID:41713812.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Improving Constipation in Critical Care Patients: A Single-Centre Prospective Cohort Closed-Loop Clinical Audit. ↗

PMID 41669582 ↗

Journal Cureus

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41669582/

Xu N et al.. Improving Constipation in Critical Care Patients: A Single-Centre Prospective Cohort Closed-Loop Clinical Audit.. Cureus. 2026. PMID:41669582.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Preclinical evaluation of Senna alata leaf extract against Hymenolepis diminuta: a promising natural anthelmintic solution. ↗

PMID 41664129 ↗

Journal BMC Complement Med Ther

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41664129/

Roy S et al.. Preclinical evaluation of Senna alata leaf extract against Hymenolepis diminuta: a promising natural anthelmintic solution.. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2026. PMID:41664129.

Q × L × D × S × 10 = 7.5 / 10

The GIRI Score is the product of four independently computed evidence components, each normalised to 0–1, then scaled to 0–10. Every component is derived exclusively from peer-reviewed references and regulatory data — no editorial judgement is applied.

0 of 10 approved references (score saturates at 10). More peer-reviewed studies = stronger evidence base.

Method: Q = number of approved references ÷ 10 (capped at 1.0)

50%

Limited — mostly case reports or animal studies

Method: L = mean study-level weight across approved references. Level 1 (meta-analysis / systematic review) = 1.0; Level 2 (RCT) = 0.8; Level 3 (cohort/case-control) = 0.6; Level 4 (case report) = 0.4; Level 5 (animal / in-vitro) = 0.2.

Benefit

Risk

50%

Mixed or neutral — roughly equal benefit and risk signals

Method: D = (sum of risk-scored references − sum of benefit-scored references) ÷ total evidence score, then scaled from [−1, 1] to [0, 1]. 0.0 = pure benefit; 0.5 = neutral; 1.0 = pure risk.

50%

One or more monitoring-level safety signals active

Method: S = 0.5 (neutral baseline) + sum of active signal severity deltas ÷ 10. Severity deltas: Critical = +2.0, High = +1.5, Moderate = +1.0, Low = +0.5. Capped at 1.0.

0Q × 5L × 5D × 5S = 7.5 / 10

Final GIRI Score for Senna. Risk level thresholds: Low 0–3.0 · Moderate 3.0–5.5 · High 5.5–7.5 · Critical 7.5–10.

Full methodology & data sources

The GIRI Score is computed entirely from structured data — no editorial scoring or subjective weighting is applied at any step.

References: Only approved references are counted. Each reference is assigned an evidence level (L1–L5) and a direction (risk / neutral / benefit) by the reference manager or AI classifier.
Safety Signals: Sourced from regulatory agencies (FDA, EMA, Health Canada, TGA, and others) and pharmacovigilance databases. Only active signals count toward the score.
Formula version: GIRI Score v3.7.0 — Q × L × D × S × 10.
Limitations: The score reflects published evidence and recorded signals as of the last update date. It is not a clinical risk assessment and should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

HIGH RISK 7.5/10

Based on available regulatory signals and scientific evidence, this ingredient presents a high safety concern. Its use in dietary supplements is associated with documented adverse events.

LOW
0–3.0

MODERATE
3.0–5.5

HIGH
5.5–7.5

CRITICAL
7.5–10

7.5

The score pin shows exactly where this ingredient falls on the fixed risk scale.

What drove the High classification for Senna

A score of 7.5 places this ingredient in the High band. Thresholds: Low 0–3.0 · Moderate 3.0–5.5 · High 5.5–7.5 · Critical 7.5–10.

0 approved references.

Limited — mostly case reports or animal studies (Level 4–5).

Neutral or mixed — benefit and risk signals roughly balanced.

No active signals — S component is at neutral baseline (0.5), contributing no extra risk weight.

No major regulatory restrictions or advisories recorded across monitored jurisdictions (FDA, EMA, Health Canada, TGA, and others).

How are the Low / Moderate / High / Critical thresholds defined?

The four risk levels are fixed score bands. A score is assigned to exactly one level based on where it falls:

Level	Score	Meaning
LOW	0.0 – 2.9	Sparse or predominantly beneficial evidence. No active safety alerts.
MODERATE	3.0 – 5.4	Mixed signals — some risk alongside benefit. Caution at high doses or in sensitive groups.
HIGH	5.5 – 7.4	Multiple studies or regulatory alerts documenting adverse effects. Professional oversight recommended.
CRITICAL	7.5 – 10	Regulatory restrictions in one or more major jurisdictions. Serious documented harm. Avoid without specialist supervision.

Thresholds are fixed constants (GIRI_Score_Utils::LEVEL_THRESHOLDS). They do not change per ingredient and are never subject to editorial adjustment.

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Senna

Safety Profile

Known Safety Concerns

Contraindications

Interactions

Evidence and Scientific Findings

Ingredient Overview

Biological and Chemical Classification

Mechanism of Action

Clinical Evidence of Effectiveness

Pharmacokinetics

Recommended Dosage

SETI — Scientific Evidence Transparency Index

Executive Summary — Ingredient Assessment

Evidence Summary

Evidence Policy

Evidence Distribution

Score Transparency

Risk Level Classification

What drove the High classification for Senna

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