Effect of sennosides and related compounds on intestinal transit in the rat.
The effect of pure sennosides A + B on large intestinal transit (LIT) was investigated in the rat. LIT was defined as the time from intracecal administration of a color marker through a chronically implanted catheter until first appearance of colored feces. Sennosides (50 mg/kg, administered orally 2-24 h before the marker) reduced LIT from greater than 6 h in controls to a minimum of 30-20 min after a 4- or 6-hour pretreatment. Longer pretreatment times increased LIT again reaching normal values after 24 h. Intracecal administration of sennosides and their natural metabolites (sennidins A + B, rhein-9-anthrone, rhein) simultaneously with the marker accelerated LIT to approximately 50-70 min. The laxative effect was less pronounced after rhein compared with the other compounds. Indometacin, loperamide, and calcium-channel antagonists (verapamil, nifedipine) partially antagonized the effect of intracecal sennosides on LIT and delayed, but did not suppress, appearance of soft feces.
Leng-Peschlow
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Department of Pharmacology, Dr. Madaus GmbH & Co., Cologne, FRG.
D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002400:Cathartics / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008139:Loperamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D010600:Pharmacology; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012676:Senna Extract; D000081226:Sennosides
D000880:Anthraquinones; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002400:Cathartics; D011355:Prodrugs; D000081226:Sennosides; D008139:Loperamide; D012676:Senna Extract; D007213:Indomethacin