title: Ziziphus jujuba extract for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation: a controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the safety and efficacy of an extract of Ziziphus jujuba for chronic constipation.Constipated patients received liquid Z. jujuba or placebo for 12 weeks. Subjects completed questionnaires, a visual analog scale and transit time (TT) tests before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 37 patients with a prolonged TT, 18 received the study drug and 19 a placebo. Two (12%) of the study and 16 (84%) of the control group dropped out due to severe constipation. The TT decreased from 12.2 particles for the study group to 3 particles at week 11. Symptom severity ratings decreased from 6 and 6.2 to 2 and 5, and the quality of life score improved from 1.9 and 2.3 to 1.3 and 1.4 in the study and control groups, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Z. jujuba extract is an effective and safe treatment for chronic constipation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel. naftali@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Timna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naftali
authors.forename: Haya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feingelernt
authors.forename: Yevgeni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lesin
authors.forename: Ariela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rauchwarger
authors.forename: Fred Meir
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Konikoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D031957:Ziziphus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts