text: It received the names Alexandrian senna and Egyptian senna because Alexandria in Egypt was the main trade port in past times. The fruits and leaves were transported from Nubia and Sudan and other places to Alexandria, then from it and across the Mediterranean sea to Europe and adjacent Asia.
  Though it might look like a scientific name, Cassia Officinalis is actually the apothecary term for this plant, and hence Officinalis—the Latin adjective denoting tools, utensils and medical compounds—is written with an initial upper-case letter, unlike specific epithets, which are always written with an initial lower-case letter today.
  Synonyms:
  Cassia acutifolia Delile
  Cassia alexandrina (Garsault) Thell.
  Cassia angustifolia M. Vahl
  Cassia lanceolata Collad. (former name)
  C. lanceolata Link is a synonym of Senna sophera  var. sophera
  C. lanceolata Pers. is a synonym of Chamaecrista desvauxii var. mollissima
  Cassia lenitiva Bisch.
  Cassia senna Linn.
  Senna acutifolia (Delile) Batka
  Senna alexandrina Garsault
  Senna angustifolia (Vahl) Batka
  Medicinal use
  Historically, Senna alexandrina was used in the form of senna pods, or as herbal tea made from the leaves, as a laxative. It also serves as a fungicide.
  Modern medicine has used senna extracts since at least the 1950s as a laxative. If accidentally ingested by infants, it can cause side effects such as severe diaper rash.  The active ingredients are several senna glycosides which interact with immune cells in the colon.