Preventive effect of Dendrobium candidum Wall. ex Lindl. on activated carbon-induced constipation in mice.

Rui Wang,Peng Sun,Yalin Zhou,Xin Zhao

doi:10.3892/etm.2014.2119

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Dendrobium candidum Wall. ex Lindl. (D. candidum) on activated carbon-induced constipation in ICR mice. ICR mice were orally administered D. candidum for 9 days. Body weight, defecation status, gastrointestinal (GI) transit and defecation times, in addition to the levels of motilin (MTL), gastrin (Gas), endothelin (ET), somatostatin (SS), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in serum were used to evaluate the preventive effects of D. candidum on constipation. The laxative drug bisacodyl acted as a positive control. The time to the first defecation of a black stool for the normal, control, bisacodyl-treated (100 mg/kg), 200 and 400 mg/kg D. candidum-treated mice was 84, 202, 126, 161 and 142 min, respectively. Following the consumption of 200 and 400 mg/kg D. candidum or bisacodyl (100 mg/kg), the GI transit was reduced to 57.7, 74.6 and 90.2%, respectively, of the transit in normal mice. The serum levels of MTL, Gas, ET, AChE, SP and VIP were significantly increased and the serum levels of SS were reduced in the mice treated with D. candidum compared with those in the untreated control mice (P<0.05). These results demonstrate that D. candidum has preventive effects on constipation in mice, and a greater functional activity was observed when a higher concentration was administered.

Highlights

Dendrobium is a huge genus of orchids, and Dendrobium candidum Wall. ex Lindl. (D. candidum) is a synonym of Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw. [1,2]
Compound 1 was obtained as a clear crystal; the 1H‐nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of this compound exhibited peaks at δ 6.92 (2H, d), 6.62 (2H, d), 6.06 (2H, s), 6.03 (1H, s) and 2.65 (4H, m), consistent with this compound being dihydro-resveratrol
Constipation most commonly occurs when the stool that forms after food is digested moves too slowly as it passes through the digestive tract

Summary

Introduction

Dendrobium is a huge genus of orchids, and Dendrobium candidum Wall. ex Lindl. (D. candidum) is a synonym of Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw. [1,2]. (D. candidum) is a synonym of Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw. Constipation is defined medically as the passing of fewer than three stools per week and is considered severe when there is less than one stool per week. It may occur when the colon absorbs too much water [5]. Activated carbon attaches to the mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and reduces drainage. This causes a reduction of GI fluids and slows down GI movement, resulting in weakness of the spleen and stomach, and to constipation

Objectives

Results

Conclusion