title: Effects of Ficus carica paste on loperamide-induced constipation in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints worldwide. This study examined the effects of fig (Ficus carica L.) paste for the treatment of loperamide-induced constipation in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were divided into one normal control group and four experimental groups (0, 1, 6, and 30 g/kg). Loperamide (2 mg/kg, twice per day) was injected intraperitoneally to induce constipation in the four experimental groups. Fig paste was administered for 4 weeks to assess its anti-constipation effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fecal pellet number, weight and water content were increased in the fig-treated groups as compared to the control group. Reductions in body weight and increased intestinal transit length were observed in the fig-treated groups. Fecal pellet number was reduced in the distal colons of the fig-treated rats. Exercise and ileum tension increased in the experimental groups as compared to the control group. According to histological analyses, the thickness of the distal colon and areas of crypt epithelial cells that produce mucin were increased in the fig-treated groups in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Constipation was decreased when fig fruit was fed to rats. Specifically, fecal number, weight, and water content, as well as histological parameters such as thickness and mucin areas in the distal colon were improved. Fig treatment may be a useful therapeutic and preventive strategy for chronic constipation.
authors.affiliation: BIOSOLOMON, Inc., Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hak-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Han-Wool
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Jeung
authors.forename: Cha-Uk
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Do-Sung
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Geum-Hwa
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myung-Soon
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Ki-Chan
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Hyang-Im
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Back
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mi-Ra
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Min-Gul
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Yong-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Byung-Ok
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Sook-Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Wan-Hee
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Hyung-Ryong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Han-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Soo-Wan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chae
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003248:Constipation / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005243:Feces; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects; D008139:Loperamide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D008139:Loperamide