The Synergistic Purgative Action of Aloe-emodin Anthrone and Rhein Anthrone in Mice: Synergism in Large Intestinal Propulsion and Water Secretion

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the mechanism involved in the synergistic purgative action of aloe-emodin anthrone and rhein anthrone, the active metabolites of sennoside C. Aloe-emodin anthrone and rhein anthrone, and their equimolar mixture, induced excretion of an approximately equal number of faeces by intracaecal administration at a dose of 23.2 mumol kg-1 in mice (= 1.0 standard dose). The number of wet faeces induced by aloe-emodin anthrone was less than those of rhein anthrone and the mixture. At the same dose, rhein anthrone and the mixture significantly stimulated large intestinal propulsion, though aloe-emodin anthrone had little stimulatory effect. Aloe-emodin anthrone and rhein anthrone decreased net water absorption but could not reverse it to the net secretion at 1/2 dose. The mixture significantly decreased net water absorption and reversed it to the net secretion at this dose. These anthrones did not stimulate mucus secretion in the colon at 1/2 dose. We concluded that the synergistic purgative effect of aloe-emodin anthrone and rhein anthrone in mice results from synergistic stimulation of large intestinal transit and large intestinal water secretion.

Laxative Effect of Agarwood Leaves and Its Mechanism

“…15,16) The mechanism involves the sennosides and their active derivatives acting on the intestinal mucosal epithelium and submucosal nerve bundles, thereby stimulating prostaglandin (PG) synthesis and endogenous acetylcholine release, and consequently enhancing the colonic smooth muscle contraction. [17][18][19] Unfortunately, the purgative activities of anthraquinoids (including senna) are too powerful for them to be regularly used, and even periodic use of these laxatives can induce pseudomelanosis coli, a risk factor for colorectal neoplasma. 3) Indeed, in the present study, the senna extract at 300 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o., had a strong laxative effect, and it induced severe diarrhea at the same doses as those Segments of the rabbit ileum were suspended at 1 g tension in an organ bath containing Tyrode's solution.…”

“…In the 1 H-NMR spectrum, the presence of a para-substituted benzene ring was shown by proton signals 6.81 (1H, d, J ¼ 8:6 Hz) and 7.61 (1H, d, J ¼ 8:6 Hz), in addition to a meta-substituted benzene ring due to two doublets at 6.07 (1H, d, J ¼ 2:0 Hz) and 6.30 (1H, d, J ¼ 2:0 Hz). The HMBC and COSY spectra allowed complete assignment and identification of the aglycone as 4, 2 0 , 4 0 , 6 0 -tetrahydroxybenzophenone (iriflophenone) (18,19). The usual acidhydrolysis of compound 2 gave iriflophenone.…”

Effect of Ethanol Extracts of Three Chinese Medicinal Plants with Laxative Properties on Ion Transport of the Rat Intestinal Epithelia

“…19) Badou contains mainly croton oil that consists of phorbol, crotonic acid, and others. 1) Phorbol ester is well known for its action on protein kinase C and thus serial cellular events including Ca 2ϩ and ion transport.…”

Involvment of Endogenous Prostaglandin in Emodin-Evoked Rat Colonic Anion Secretion

“…7) Aloe-emodin-9-anthrone (AE-anthrone), produced from barbaloin, caused not only an increase in the intestinal water content but also mucus secretion in the colon at its 1/2 dose. 11) Further, synergistic purgative effect of aloeemodin anthrone and rhein anthrone in mice was resulted from synergistic stimulation of large intestinal transit and large intestinal water secretion, 12) emodin, as an anthraquinone derivative from rhubarb, was demonstrated to tend to enhance the purgative activity in mice. 13) However, the effect of the emodin on anion secretion and its underling mechanism has not been illuminated.…”