Origin of sennosides in health teas including malva leaves

The aim of this study is to clarify whether sennosides are contained in the leaf of Malva verticillata L., and then to clarify the source of sennoside s in health teas including malva leaves. The identification and determinati on of sennosides were performed with thin layer chromatography and high per formance liquid chromatography. The leaf of Malva verticillata L. did not c ontain sennosides A or B and could be easily distinguished from senna leaf. Our previous report showed that sennosides are contained in weight-reducin g herbal teas including malva leaves, and that senna leaf is a herbal compo nent in some teas. Furthermore, in 10 samples of health tea including malva leaves that were bought last year, the smallest amount of sennosides was 6 .1 mg/bag, and all health teas including malva leaves contained the leaf an d midrib of senna. We suggest that sennosides A and B are not contained in the leaf of Malva verticillata L., and that the sennosides in health teas i ncluding malva leaves are not derived from malva leaf but from senna leaf.