Senna occidentalis
Encyclopedia
Senna occidentalis is a pantropical
plant species.
Vernacular names include : ʻauʻaukoʻi in Hawaii, coffee senna, coffeeweed
, Mogdad coffee, negro-coffee, senna coffee, Stephanie coffee, stinkingweed or styptic weed.
The species was formerly placed in the genus Cassia.
The plant is reported to be poisonous to cattle. The plant contains anthraquinones. The roots contain emodin
and the seeds contain chrysarobin (1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-9-anthrone) and N-methylmorpholine
.
Mogdad coffee seeds can be roasted and used as a substitute for coffee. They have also been used as an adulterant
for coffee. There is apparently no caffeine
in mogdad coffee.
Despite the claims of being poisonous, the leaves of this plant, Dhiguthiyara in Dhivehi, have been used in the diet of the Maldives
for centuries and also as a medicinal plant.
Pantropical
In biogeography, a pantropical distribution one which covers tropical regions of all of the major continents, i.e. in Africa, in Asia and in the Americas. Examples include the plant genera Acacia and Bacopa....
plant species.
Vernacular names include : ʻauʻaukoʻi in Hawaii, coffee senna, coffeeweed
Coffeeweed
The name coffeeweed or coffee weed may refer to various plants used as coffee substitute, including:* Cichorium intybus, the common chicory, a plant species native to Europe* Senna obtusifolia...
, Mogdad coffee, negro-coffee, senna coffee, Stephanie coffee, stinkingweed or styptic weed.
The species was formerly placed in the genus Cassia.
The plant is reported to be poisonous to cattle. The plant contains anthraquinones. The roots contain emodin
Emodin
Emodin is a purgative resin, 6-methyl-1,3,8-trihydroxyanthraquinone, from rhubarb, the buckthorn and Japanese Knotweed...
and the seeds contain chrysarobin (1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-9-anthrone) and N-methylmorpholine
N-Methylmorpholine
N-Methylmorpholine is an organic base of intermediate strength. Its main use is as the starting material for preparing N-methylmorpholine N-oxide....
.
Mogdad coffee seeds can be roasted and used as a substitute for coffee. They have also been used as an adulterant
Adulterant
An adulterant is a chemical substance which should not be contained within other substances for legal or other reasons. Adulterants may be intentionally added to more expensive substances to increase visible quantities and reduce manufacturing costs or for some other deceptive or malicious purpose...
for coffee. There is apparently no caffeine
Caffeine
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants...
in mogdad coffee.
Despite the claims of being poisonous, the leaves of this plant, Dhiguthiyara in Dhivehi, have been used in the diet of the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
for centuries and also as a medicinal plant.