Long-term mucosal alterations by sennosides and related compounds.
Sennosides and related compounds are presumed to be severe cell poisons after prolonged ingestion. Some histological and ultrastructural studies in animals and man with such laxative misuse have revealed myenteric plexus and colonic epithelium injuries; but others have failed to point out identical data. In a first histological and ultrastructural study in mouse, we were unable to find any intestinal mucosa injury after long-term sennoside ingestion. In a second long-term experiment, we compared the effects of sennosides and 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (synthetic anthracene derivative) on the mouse jejunum and colon. Electron microscopic observations showed nervous myenteric plexus abnormalities only in 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone-treated animals. These results suggest that sennosides have a good intestinal mucosa tolerance as opposed to aglycosidic-related compounds.
Dufour
P
P
Department of Pharmacology, University of Bordeaux II, School of Pharmacy, France.
Gendre
P
P
D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D002400:Cathartics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012676:Senna Extract; D000081226:Sennosides; D013997:Time Factors
D000880:Anthraquinones; D002400:Cathartics; D000081226:Sennosides; D012676:Senna Extract; C004315:danthron