title: Comparison of laxative and antioxidant activities of raw, processed and fermented Polygoni Multiflori radix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the anti-oxidative activity and adverse laxative effect of raw, traditional processed and fermented products of Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR), and furthermore, to evaluate the fermentation method used in the processing procedure of PMR.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay was carried out to evaluate the anti-oxidative activity. Modulation of normal defecation and effect on gastrointestinal motility in mice were carried out to investigate their adverse laxative effect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fermented PMR induced less severe laxative adverse effect than Polygoni Multiflori Radix Praeparata (PMRP). PMR fermented with Rhizopus sp. (FB) could modulate the defecation significantly. The gastrointestinal motility was inhibited by PMRP and PMR fermented with Rhizopus oryzae (FA). FA and FB showed better antioxidant activity than PMRP in 50% and 95% ethanol group. Contents of 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (TSG) were reduced significantly after traditional processing but maintained after fermentation. Emodin and physcion were increased after traditional processing and fermented with Rhizopus oryzae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All processing procedure, including fermentation, might reduce its anti-oxidative activity. However, most of the processed products could lessen the adverse effect on gastrointestinal tract compared to PMR. Fermentation with Rhizopus oryzae was considered as a promising processing method of PMR.
authors.affiliation: The Key Modern Research Laboratory for Ethno-pharmacognosy of Yunnan Higher School, Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xiao-Jian
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Sheng-Lan
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ya-Ge
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rong-Hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004642:Emodin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects*; D054368:Laxatives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D028502:Polygonum / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D012233:Rhizopus
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D054368:Laxatives; D010936:Plant Extracts; C008905:physcione; D004642:Emodin