Laxative Effects of a Standardized Extract of Dendropanax morbiferus H. Léveille Leaves on Experimental Constipation in Rats

Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the laxative effects of a standardized aqueous extract of Dendropanax morbiferus H. Lév. on two different constipation rat models. Materials and Methods: Animal studies were conducted with low-fiber diet-induced and loperamide-induced constipation animal models, and isolated colons were used in ex vivo analysis to determine the changes in colonic motility caused by D. morbiferus H. Lév. leaf extract (DPL). Results: The results showed that DPL administration significantly improved certain reduced fecal parameters (number, weight, and water content of the stools) in a both low-fiber diet and loperamide-induced constipation models without adverse effects of diarrhea. The laxative effect of DPL was confirmed to improve the charcoal excretion time upon DPL treatment in a low-fiber diet or loperamide-induced constipation model through gastrointestinal (GI) motility evaluation using the charcoal meal test. In addition, when DPL was administered to RAW264.7 cells and loperamide-induced constipation model rats, the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increased significantly in cells and tissue. Furthermore, DPL dose-dependently stimulated the spontaneous contractile amplitude and frequency of the isolated rat colon. Conclusion: Although our study did not provide information on the acute or chronic toxicity of DPL, our results demonstrated that DPL can effectively promote defecation frequency and rat colon contraction, providing scientific evidence to support the use of DPL as a therapeutic application. However, further toxicity studies of DPL are needed prior to the initiation of clinical trials and clinical applications.

Prune Juice Containing Sorbitol, Pectin, and Polyphenol Ameliorates Subjective Complaints and Hard Feces While Normalizing Stool in Chronic Constipation: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

“…The prune juice used in this study contained abundant sorbitol (see Table 1, Supplementary Digital Content, http://links.lww.com/AJG/C620 ), which has been reported to improve constipation ( 13 ). In addition, the prune juice contained dietary fiber, especially pectin, and polyphenols, both of which have been reported to improve constipation ( 14 , 15 ). Accordingly, it was supposed that the observed effects of ameliorating constipation by prune juice were mainly because of the combination of sorbitol, pectin, and polyphenol.…”

Evaluation of the in vivo Laxative Effects of Aqueous Leaf and Stem Extracts of Artemisia abyssinica in Mice [LETTER]

“…Furthermore, we recommend that researchers identify the chemical constituents of the extract using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and determine the laxative compound of aqueous leaf and stem extracts of A. abyssinica using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methods. 5 Subsequent research could also be carried out using molecular docking studies to identify compounds in the extract analogous to bisacodyl and castor oil. The results obtained with LC-MS can confirm the interaction of ligands with amino acid sequences that become target receptors (laxative bioactivity).…”

Discrimination of Dendropanax morbifera via HPLC fingerprinting and SNP analysis and its impact on obesity by modulating adipogenesis- and thermogenesis-related genes

“…DM contains polyphenols, flavonoids, essential oils, tannins, and alkaloids. Some of the primary polyphenols include chlorogenic acid (CGA), neochlorogenic acid (NCGA), cryptochlorogenic acid (CCGA), and rutin ( 4 ). The variability of PSMs in DM on a seasonal basis or with different parts in DM has been reported in a few studies.…”