Yes, senna and sonamukhi are the same plant. So are sanay, sanai patti, swarnapatri, markandika and Tinnevelly senna. They are regional and trade names for one leaf, and knowing which name belongs to which market saves a lot of confusion when you are buying.
We ship this leaf from Rajasthan to about sixty countries, and the naming causes more buyer confusion than the specification does.
One plant, and where each name comes from
| Name | Where it is used |
|---|---|
| Senna | International trade, pharmacy, English language markets |
| Sonamukhi | Hindi, and across northern India |
| Sanay, sanai patti | Urdu and Hindi, common in Unani practice |
| Swarnapatri, markandika | Sanskrit, and in Ayurvedic texts |
| Nilavarai | Tamil, and in Tamil Nadu where much of it grows |
| Sanamakki | Arabic speaking markets across the Gulf |
| Tinnevelly senna | Export trade, meaning the Indian grade |
Sonamukhi translates roughly as golden face, from the flowers. Swarnapatri means golden leaf. The names describe the same plant looked at from different traditions.
What Tinnevelly actually means
This one is not just another synonym, so it is worth separating out.
Tinnevelly is the old name for Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, where commercial cultivation was established in the nineteenth century. Tinnevelly senna came to mean the Indian grade in international trade, as distinct from Alexandrian senna, which comes from a related species grown in Sudan and Egypt.
So Tinnevelly names an origin and a grade, not a different plant from sonamukhi. Most Indian senna today is grown in Rajasthan rather than Tamil Nadu, but the trade name stuck.
Where a name really does mean something else
Two traps worth knowing.
Cassia is not always senna. Cassia is also used for cinnamon bark from a completely unrelated tree, and for cassia gum, which comes from a different plant again and goes into food thickening and animal feed. If a supplier offers you cassia without qualifying it, ask which one.
Neutral henna is senna. Neutral henna and colourless henna are trade names for senna powder sold for hair use. It is not henna, and it deposits no colour. Buyers ordering neutral henna expecting a henna product are consistently surprised.
Why it matters commercially
Naming decides what you get. An Indian domestic buyer asking for sonamukhi and an American importer asking for senna leaf are ordering the same material, but the specification attached to each request is usually very different. The domestic order often arrives as field grade material; the export order carries cleaning, testing and documentation.
The same trap runs the other way. Buyers who search only in English miss suppliers who present themselves in local terms, and buyers searching only for sonamukhi see mostly domestic traders rather than exporters.
When you enquire, name the plant, the part, the form and the grade. That removes the ambiguity that a name alone leaves in place.
Leaves and pods are both senna
All of these names normally refer to the leaf, but the plant also produces pods, which carry more strength and are usually specified by extract and supplement manufacturers. Sonamukhi phali is the pod in Hindi. The comparison is in senna leaves compared with senna pods.
Sourcing under any of these names
We grow, process and export senna leaves and senna pods from Sojat, Rajasthan, and we quote to buyers who write to us in any of these terms. More on the range on our senna manufacturer and exporter page.
Minimum order 100 kg. Certificate of Analysis on every lot, free sample before you order, quote back within 24 hours, and documentation prepared for EU, US and Gulf requirements.
Specifications, for buyers who order to a number
Whatever name you use, the order is defined by the same four things: part, form, grade and strength, with purity limits set by your destination market. Strength is confirmed on the Certificate of Analysis for the specific lot rather than quoted as a range. Send your standard and we will confirm what we can supply against it.
Frequently asked questions
Is senna and sonamukhi same plant, or two different ones?
The same plant. Sonamukhi is the Hindi name for senna, and both refer to the same leaf. Sanay, sanai patti, swarnapatri and nilavarai are further names for it.
What is Tinnevelly senna?
The Indian grade, named after Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu where commercial growing began. It distinguishes Indian senna from Alexandrian senna grown in Sudan and Egypt.
Is cassia the same as senna?
Not necessarily. Cassia also names cinnamon bark from an unrelated tree, and cassia gum from a different plant used in food and feed. Always ask which one is meant.
Is neutral henna the same as senna?
Usually yes. Neutral henna and colourless henna are trade names for senna powder sold for hair use. It is a different plant from henna and deposits no colour.
Which name should I use when enquiring?
Any of them works with us, but name the part, the form and the grade alongside it. That is what removes the ambiguity a name on its own leaves behind.
Specs change with the crop, the season and the grade. Ask our export desk for a current lab report, the minimum order and a price to your port, and we will come back within 24 hours.