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Family Caesalpiniaceae / Fabaceae / Leguminosae
Malakaturai
Senna multijuga (Rich.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby.
FALSE SICKLEPOD
Mi ye jui ming

Scientific names Common names
Cassia ampliflora Steud. Malakaturai (Tag.)
Cassia calliantha G.Mey. False sicklepod (Engl.)
Cassia fulgens Wall. Golden shower (Engl.)
Cassia marimari Aubl. November shower (Engl.)
Cassia richardiana Kunth  
Chamaesenna multijuga (Rich.) Pittier.  
Peiranisia aristulata Britton & Killip.  
Peiranisia multijuga (Rich.) Britton & P.Wilson.  
Senna multijuga (Rich.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby.  
Senna multijuga (Rich) H.S.Irwin & Barneby is an accepted name. The Plant List

Other vernacular names
BOLIVIA: Cupesi, Flor de mayo.
BRAZIL: Aleluia, Amarela, Amarelao.
GUYANA: Riariadan.
INDONESIAN: Kasingsat, Keetjandoong.
MEXICO: Cachimbo, Chipilin, Dormilon, Guajillo, Picho guacamayo.
SPANISH: Guajillo.

Botany
Senna multijuga is an evergreen to deciduous tree with a dense crown growing to a height of 6 to 10 m, sometimes as high as 30 m., with a bole 30 to 40 cm in diameter. Leaves are 12 to 20 cm long, stipules early caducous, linear; rachis and petiole puberulent. Leaflets 10 to 26 pairs, linear-oblong or oblong, 1.2 to 4 by 0.6 to 0.8 cm, both surfaces puberulent or adaxially glabrous, apex obtuse, rounded, mucronate, slightly oblique. Racemes several, arranged in a terminal, leafy panicle 10-20 cm peduncle and pedicels puberulent flowers are 2.5 to 4 cm in diameter; bracts ovate, about 2 mm, tomentose. Sepals are greenish yellow when mature, slightly unequal, 5 to 6 mm. Petals are yellow, ovate-oblong, 1 to 2 cm, glabrous. Legume is dark brown, flat, broadly linear, obtuse. Seeds are 30-60, flattened, about 6 mm. (Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2014) (3)

Distribution
- Introduced.
- Native to northern part of South America and Mexico.
- Widely introduced to tropical regions of the world as an ornamental. (3)
- Planted as hedge plant.
- In Asia, found in Bangladesh, China, Hongkong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka. (3)
- Reported invasive in Hawaii. (3)

Constituents
- Study of leaves isolated five new pyridine alkaloids, namely, 12′-hydroxy-7′-multijuguinol (1), 12′-hydroxy-8′-multijuguinol (2), methyl multijuguinate (3), 7′-multijuguinol (4), and 8′-multijuguinol (5). (see study below) (4)
Study of leaves isolated two unusual pyridine alkaloids, 7′-multijuguinone (1) and 12′-hydroxy-7′-multijuguinone (2),  along with known flavonoid rutin. (see study below) (6)

Properties
- Studies have suggested acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and phytoremediative properties.

Parts used
Leaves, seeds.

Uses

Edibility
- Several Senna species, including S. multijuga, have reportedly edible leaves, shoots, and seeds, eaten as vegetable. Seeds used as coffee substitute. (3)
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
Others
- Wood: Soft and light, No industrial use. Use limited to making toys and boxes.

- Environmental: Agroforestry, barrier or support, erosion control or dune stabilization, revegetation, and soil improvement. (3)

Studies
Pyridine Alkaloids / Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors / Leaves:
Study of leaves isolated five new pyridine alkaloids, namely, 12′-hydroxy-7′-multijuguinol (1), 12′-hydroxy-8′-multijuguinol (2), methyl multijuguinate (3), 7′-multijuguinol (4), and 8′-multijuguinol (5). All compounds exhibited weak in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity when compared to standard compound physostigmine. (4)
Copper Phytoremediation: Study evaluated the initial growth, tolerance, and copper phytoremediation. While S. multijuga did not demonstrate high tolerance to the highest copper concentration in the study, it showed tolerance to the metal for use for reclamation of copper-contaminated areas. (5)
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Pyridine Alkaloids / Leaves: Study of leaves isolated two unusual pyridine alkaloids, 7′-multijuguinone (1) and 12′-hydroxy-7′-multijuguinone (2),  along with known flavonoid rutin. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity compared with standard compound physostigmine. (6)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Ornamental cultivation.

October 2020

                                                 PHOTOS / ILLUSTRATIONS
IMAGE SOURCE: Photo / Senna multijugaa leaves and flattened seed pods / Forest and Kim Starr ) Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 / . / click on image to go to source page / AlterVista
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Senna multijuga / Tracy Slotta @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Senna multijuga flowering tree / © J S Peterson / Slotta @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Databas / click on image to go to source page / USDA

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Senna multijuga / Synonyms / The Plant List
(3)
Senna multijuga (November flower) / Invasive Species Compendium / CABI
(4)
Pyridine Alkaloids from Senna multijuga As Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors / Wellington Francisco, Marcos Pivatto, Amanda Danuello, Luis O Regasini, Luciene R Baccini, Maria C M Young, Vanderlan S Bolzani et al / J Nat Produc., 2012, 75(3): pp 408-413 / https://doi.org/10.1021/np200814j
(5)
Copper Phytoaccumulation and Tolerance by Seedlings of Native Brazilian Trees / Rudinei de Marco, Rodrigo Ferreira da Silva, Robson Andreazza, Clovis Orlando da Ros, Douglas Leandro Scheid, and Gilvan Moises Bertollo / Environmental Engineering Science, 2016; 33(3) / https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2015.0307
(6)
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Pyridine Alkaloids of the Leaves of Senna multijuga / Maria Serrano, Marcos Pivatoo, Welington Francisco, Maria Young, Vanderlan Bolzani et al / Journal of Natural Products, 2010; 73(3): pp 482-484 / https://doi.org/10.1021/np900644x

                                                                          DOI
It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)

                                                            List of Understudied Philippine Medicinal Plants

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