title: Efficacy of the Malva sylvestris L. flowers aqueous extract for functional constipation: A placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of Malva sylvestris L. flowers extract for treatment of FC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults with FC were allocated to receive the M. sylvestris L. flowers aqueous extract syrup (MSL, 1 g extract/day) or placebo for four weeks. Frequency of constipation symptoms and stool forms were assessed every week. Self-reported improvement was assessed after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with placebo, more increase was observed in defecation frequency (F = 18.8, P < 0.001) and more decrease was observed in frequency of all constipation symptoms by MSL (F = 16.5 to 25.3, all P values <0.001). Also, the MSL group experienced more reduction in frequency of hard stool forms (45.4% vs. 9.1%, P < 0.001) and reported more improvement in all symptoms (all P values <0.01) than placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The M. sylvestris L. flowers aqueous extract is efficacious and safe for the treatment of FC in adult patients. Investigating the mechanisms of action is warranted. IRCT2014031617032N1.
authors: Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: elsaghm@yahoo.com.
authors: Mahin
authors: M
authors: Elsagh
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: m_fartookzade@yahoo.com.
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Fartookzadeh
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: mkamalinejad@yahoo.com.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Kamalinejad
authors: Department of Traditional Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: anushiravanim@mums.ac.ir.
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Anushiravani
authors: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic address: awat_feizi@hotmail.com.
authors: Awat
authors: A
authors: Feizi
authors: Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: farshadamini2@yahoo.com.
authors: Farshad Amini
authors: FA
authors: Behbahani
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, Najafabad, Iran. Electronic address: rahmatollahrafiei@yahoo.com.
authors: Rahmatollah
authors: R
authors: Rafiei
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, Najafabad, Iran. Electronic address: arjmandakbar@yahoo.com.
authors: Akbar
authors: A
authors: Arjmandpour
authors: Gastroenterology Section, Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic address: adibi@med.mui.ac.ir.
authors: Peyman
authors: P
authors: Adibi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D028501:Malva / Q000737:chemistry*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Constipation; Herbal medicine; Malva; Malvaceae; Traditional medicine