title: Effect of senna is not mediated by platelet-activating factor.
abstract: The effect of in vivo treatment with senna was examined on the ex vivo formation of platelet-activating factor (PAF) by small and large intestine of rat, mouse and guinea pig. A single or a prolonged oral administration of senna (60-240 mg/kg) to animals did not increase intestinal PAF content. Nor did senna increase the intraluminal release of acid phosphatase. A similar result was obtained in the colonic tissue of rat perfused in vitro with rhein (1-500 micrograms/ml) or rhein anthrone (1-500 micrograms/ml). In contrast, a single oral administration of phenolphthalein (20 mg/kg), bile salts (20 mg/kg) or magnesium sulfate (30 mg/kg) to rats increased intestinal PAF content. Magnesium sulfate also increased the intraluminal release of acid phosphatase. Colonic tissue of rats perfused in vitro with calcium ionophore A23187 (10 micrograms/ml) formed large amounts of PAF and acid phosphatase. PAF stimulates intestinal motility and secretion and mediates gut damage while acid phosphatase is a marker of cellular damage. Therefore, our data suggest that senna is well tolerated in animals and PAF does not mediate senna-induced laxation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mascolo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Autore
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D002400:Cathartics / Q000494:pharmacology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012676:Senna Extract / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000095322:Anthrones
chemical_list: D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000873:Anthracenes; D000880:Anthraquinones; D002400:Cathartics; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D012676:Senna Extract; C055876:rhein-9-anthrone; D000095322:Anthrones; C020491:rhein