BACKGROUND/AIMS: Capsule endoscopy is an effective diagnostic tool for detecting small bowel disease. However, the method of bowel preparation for capsule endoscopy has not been standardized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral sodium phosphate as a preparation for capsule endoscopy. METHODS: A total of 129 cases who underwent capsule endoscopy from Mar. 2003 to Sep. 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. Eighty- eight cases were prepared with sennosides (Alaxyl(R)) and 41 cases were prepared with sodium phosphate. The intestinal mucosa was defined as being unclean if the intestinal content, food materials, and bubbles covered more than 25% of the mucosal surface. Using a stopwatch, the exact time of the unclean image was recorded. The percentage of the unclean image for the small intestinal transit time (SITT) was calculated as an objective score. Small bowel cleansing was considered 'adequate' if the objective score was <10% and 'inadequate' if the objective score was 10% or greater. RESULTS: 35 cases (40%) showed an adequate image in the sennosides and simethicone group and 26 cases (63%) showed an adequate image in the sodium phosphate and simethicone group. The adequacy rate was significantly higher in the sodium phosphate group than in the sennosides group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Capsule endoscopy prepared by sodium phosphate and simethicone produced a better visual image than sennosides and simethicone.
Capsule Endoscopy* ; Gastrointestinal Contents ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Retrospective Studies ; Senna Extract ; Simethicone ; Sodium*

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for determining the content of primary chemical constituents in the leaves of Cassia angustifolia.

METHODThe HPLC with Diamonsil C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column was used , acetonitrile-1% acetic acid (10:90-15: 85-18: 82-20: 80-25: 75) in a gradient manner was used as a mobile phase, with flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1), column temperature at 40 degrees C and detection wavelength at 270 nm.

RESULTThe results showed that 5 effective components all separated well and showed good linearity.

CONCLUSIONThe method was proved to be rapid, sensitive, accurate, credible and repeatable. It can be applied to quality control of Folium Sennae.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; Apigenin ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; Naphthalenes ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Senna Extract ; Senna Plant ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo determine the difference on purgative biopotency of different processed products of rhubarb and compare rhubarb before and after preparation.

METHODThe prime biopotency of rhubarb reference substance was determined by comparing with the control substance of sennoside B using rat purgative model. Comparing with calibrated rhubarb reference substance, the bioactivity different processed products of rhubarb was determined by the 2,2',2" method.

RESULTThe purgative biopotency of crude rhubarb was 825.22 U x g(-1). The purgative biopotency of alcohol-processed rhubarb was 699.05 U x g(-1), The purgative biopotency of steamed rhubarb were 459.76 U x g(-1). Carbonized rhubarb cannot be determinate.

CONCLUSIONCrude rhubarb showed a significantly declineing purgative biopotency after being processed, alcohol-processed rhubarb showed less than crude rhubarb and followed by steamed rhubarb. Carbonized rhubarb lost almost all purgative bioactivity.

Animals ; Cathartics ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Senna Extract ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety of compound plantain-senna granule (CPSG) in the treatment of functional constipation.

METHODSEighty patients with confirmed diagnosis of functional constipation were assigned to 2 groups. The 40 patients in the treatment group were treated with CPSG 5 g per day, while the 40 patients in the control group were treated with equal volume of starch granule, for 2 weeks totally. The defecating frequency and stool property, the scores of fecal discharge difficulty and accompanied symptoms, the gastrointestinal transmission time, and adverse reaction of treatment in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSParameters of defecating frequency, stool property, the scores of fecal discharge difficulty, accompanied symptoms and the gastrointestinal transmission time were unchanged after treatment in the control group (P > 0.05); while in the treatment group, they improved significantly (P < 0.05) and showed significant difference to those in the control group respectively (P < 0. 05). No serious adverse reaction occurred in both groups.

CONCLUSIONCPSG can obviously increase the defecating frequency, change the stool property, alleviate the fecal discharging difficult symptom and accompanied symptom, and shorten the gastrointestinal transmission time in patients with functional constipation with good security and tolerability.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cathartics ; therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Constipation ; drug therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plantago ; chemistry ; Senna Extract ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Senna, one of the major stimulant laxatives, is widely used for treating constipation. Chronic senna use has been reported to be associated with colonic disorders such as melanosis coli and/or epithelial hyperplasia. However, there is no obvious information on the influence of chronic senna use on organs except for the intestine. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the influence of senna laxative use on skin barrier function by repeated senna administration. METHODS: Eight-week-old male hairless mice received senna (10 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. After administration, we evaluated transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and investigated the biomarkers in plasma and skin using protein analysis methods. RESULTS: Fecal water content on day seven was significantly increased; however, on day 21, it was significantly decreased after repeated senna administration. In the senna-administered group, TEWL was significantly higher compared to the control on days seven and 21. Plasma acetylcholine concentration and NO2 −/NO3 − were increased on days seven and 21, respectively. In skin, tryptase-positive mast cells and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-positive cells were increased on days seven and 21, respectively. The increase of TEWL on days seven and 21 was suppressed by the administration of atropine and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, respectively. CONCLUSION: It was suggested that diarrhea or constipation induced by repeated senna administration caused the impairment of skin barrier function. There is a possibility that this impaired skin barrier function occurred due to degranulation of mast cells via cholinergic signals or oxidative stress derived from iNOS.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Atropine ; Biomarkers ; Colon ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Intestines ; Laxatives ; Male ; Mast Cells ; Melanosis ; Mice* ; Mice, Hairless ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma ; Senna Extract ; Skin* ; Water

OBJECTIVETo observe the prophylactic effects of senna extract 40 mg/kg on chemotherapy-induced constipation.

METHODSEighty-two patients suffering from constipation after chemotherapy were assigned to Group AB and Group BA. Group AB referred to patients who first took senna extract in the 1st chemotherapeutic course and the crude fiber diet in the 2nd chemotherapeutic course. But the sequence was just the opposite in Group BA. The effective rates of relieving chemotherapy-induced constipation by senna extract and by the crude fiber diet were observed. The differences of the digestive tract reaction and the hematotoxicity reaction were compared. The conditions of patients' abdominal pain and stool properties were observed after they took senna extract.

RESULTSThe effective rate of constipation by taking senna extract was 92.68% and that by the crude fiber diet was 10.93%, with statistical difference shown (P < 0.01). There was no statistic difference in adverse reaction rate such as decreased neutrophils over degree II, decreased hemoglobin, decreased platelet, nausea, vomit, etc. (P > 0.05). The occurrence rate of abdominal pain over degree II after taking senna was 8.54%. In the distribution of stool properties, the rate of loose stool was 35.53%.

CONCLUSIONSenna extract 40 mg/kg was effective and safe in treating chemotherapy-induced constipation.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Constipation ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Cross-Over Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Senna Extract ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the difference and causes of purgative activity in three species of certified rhubarb, so as to lay steady foundations of further research on assessing purgative activity impersonally by using measurable indexes.

METHODThe potencies of three species were comparied with purgative ED, of mice as quantitative index which were calculated, and activities of Na+ K + -ATP ase in mouse colonic epithelial cell membrane were also investigated . The related purgative contents (conjunct and free rhein, chrysophanol, chrysophanic acid, sennoside A) were detected by HPLC and contents (total anthraquinones, anthraglucosennin; conjunct and free anthraquinones) were detected by UV.

RESULTThere were different purgative activities among three spieces of certified rhubarb. Each purgative ED, of mice was Rheum tanguticum ( ED50 = 0. 37 g x kg (-1)) , R. officinale ( ED50 = 0. 99 g x kg(-1) ) and R. palrnatum from Gansu (ED50 = 1. 83 g x kg(-1)) , the ratio of potency of those was 4. 94: 1. 85: 1. In the meanwhile, the difference of the inhibitory effect on Na+ -K + -ATP ase in mouse colonic epithelial cell membrane and relative purgative components also existed in the three species of certified rhubarb.

CONCLUSIONIt disclosed that there was notable diference of purgative activity and components among three spieces of certified Rhubarb, which probably resulted in the ultimate diference in clinical prescription and the production of Chinese patent medicines.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Cathartics ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; enzymology ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Colon ; cytology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Rheum ; chemistry ; classification ; Senna Extract ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Species Specificity