Previous studies have shown the anthelmintic efficacy of Senna alata, Senna alexandrina and Senna occidentalis on the zoonotic parasite Hymenolepis diminuta through microscopic studies on morphological structure. The present study is based on the light and confocal microscopic studies to understand if Senna extracts affect neurotransmitter activity of the parasites. A standard concentration (40 mg/mL) of the three leaf extracts and one set of 0.005 mg/mL concentration of the reference drug praziquantel were tested against the parasites, keeping another set of parasites in phosphate buffer saline as a control. Histochemical studies were carried out using acetylthiocholine iodide as the substrate and acetylcholinesterase as the marker enzyme for studying the expression of the neurotransmitter of the parasite and the staining intensity was observed under a light microscope. Immunohistochemical studies were carried out using anti serotonin primary antibody and fluorescence tagged secondary antibody and observed using confocal microscopy. Intensity of the stain decreases in treated parasites compared with the control which implies loss of activity of the neurotransmitters. These observations indicated that Senna have a strong anthelmintic effect on the parasite model and thus pose as a potential anthelmintic therapy.

At 50% maturity, regenerating Senna species were characterized for morphological traits, seed reproduction, and evaluated for regeneration. Quality plants regenerated from all accessions produced 1018 to more than 21,215 total seeds. Principal component analysis revealed which traits contributed the greatest to variability among coffee senna accessions. Senna species have potential to produce pharmaceutical products and can be grown as medicinal plants. The flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol found in Senna species have been clinically shown to have anti-pancreatic cancer properties.

Seed dormancy and germination of Senna marilandica and S. obtusifolia were compared in greenhouse and laboratory studies. About 90% of the S. obtusifolia seeds were green and had hard seed coat dormancy, whereas the other 10% were brown and nondormant. Seed-colour morphs did not occur in S. marilandica, and nearly 100% of the seeds had hard seed coat dormancy. Seeds of S. obtusifolia were significantly heavier than those of S. marilandica. Mechanical scarification was very effective in overcoming dormancy in seeds of both species. However, concentrated sulfuric acid, absolute ethanol and boiling water were less effective in breaking dormancy in seeds of S. marilandica than in those of S. obtusifolia. Further, incubating seeds at 30/15 to 40/25°C and dry-heat treatments at 80–100°C were ineffective in breaking dormancy in S. marilandica, but significantly increased germination percentages in S. obtusifolia. In neither species were simulated daily/seasonal temperature shifts effective in breaking dormancy. Scarified seeds of both species germinated over a wide range of temperatures in both light and darkness. Under near-natural temperature conditions, seeds of S. marilandica germinated in spring only, whereas those of S. obtusifolia emerged in late spring and throughout summer. Both species can form a long-lived seed bank. Dormancy break by high field temperatures in seeds of S. obtusifolia allows this species to germinate throughout the warm growing season and thus contributes to its success as a weed in arable crops.