Sennoside Research Articles

Assessment of the genotoxic risk from laxative senna products.

Laxative senna products and several of their specific components have been submitted to a large number of genetic tests. While most studies gave negative responses, results from some of the studies suggest that components of senna products, particularly emodin and aloe-emodin, have genotoxic activity. Assessment of the genotoxicity profile of these substances, in light of other data from animal and human metabolism or kinetic studies, human clinical trials and rodent carcinogenicity studies do not support concerns that senna laxatives pose a genotoxic risk to humans when consumed under prescribed use conditions.

大腸内視鏡検査の前処理としてのシサプリドとセンノシドの効果の比較検討

S状結腸までの観察を主目的とした大腸内視鏡検査 (S状結腸内視鏡検査) の前処置をより良好にすることを目的として, 緩下剤センノシド (s) と消化管運動賦活剤シサプリド (c) を検査前日に投与する方法の有用性を検討した.痔核等による肛門部症状があり大腸疾患スクリーニングのための大腸内視鏡検査を施行された99例の前処置を, 封筒法によって, (1) 当日GE120mlのみ施行する方法, (2) S (24mg分 1) を服用しGE120mlを施行する方法, (3) C (7.5mg分 3) を服用しGE120mlを施行する方法, (4) SとCの両方を服用しGE120mlを施行する方法の4法に分け, 内視鏡により初めて有形便がみえた部位, 大腸各部位の観察しやすさ, 挿入可能範囲などを検討した.その結果SとCの両方を前日服用し当日GEを施行する方法により, 直腸内の有形便が少量となり, 下行結腸が観察しやすくなり, 時に全大腸が観察できるなど, 本法は, 人間ドックなどで行われるS状結腸内視鏡検査の前処置法として有用と考えられた.

Rhein and aloe-emodin kinetics from senna laxatives in man.

Therapeutic doses of two laxatives (Agiolax and Sennatin) were repeatedly administered to 10 healthy volunteers in a two-way change-over design. Blood samples were collected up to 96 h after the first dose, and plasma levels of total aloe-emodin and rhein were determined simultaneously with a sensitive (lower limit of quantification: 0.5 ng aloe-emodin and 2.5 ng rhein per millilitre plasma) and specific fluorometric HPLC method. Aloe-emodin was not detectable in any plasma sample of any subject. Rhein concentration time courses showed highest levels of 150-160 ng/ml and peak maxima at 3-5 h and 10-11 h after dosing probably according to absorption of free rhein and rhein released from prodrugs (e.g. sennosides) by bacterial metabolism, respectively.

Mutagenicity of crude senna and senna glycosides in Salmonella typhimurium.

The mutagenicity of senna glycosides and extracts of senna folium and senna fructus was investigated in the Salmonella typhimurium reversion assay. Senna glycosides were inactive in all strains, except for a slight, but significant increase in mutant frequency in TA102 in the absence and presence of liver microsomes. Extracts of senna fructus and senna folium demonstrated weak activity in TA97a, TA100 and TA102 in the presence of liver microsomes, and in TA97a and TA102 in the absence of liver microsomes. A strong increase in mutant frequency (3- to 5-fold above background frequency) was observed with all extracts in TA98 in the presence of liver microsomes. This activity increased further following enzymatic hydrolysis with hesperidinase of extracts of senna fructus from one source, and could be correlated to the release of the flavonol aglycones kaempferol and quercetin. The weak or lacking activity of anthraquinone aglycones in the tested strains of Salmonella typhimurium indicates that mutagenicity can not be attributed solely to the anthraquinone content of these plant materials. The chemical nature of other mutagenic components has not been elucidated.

Effectiveness and Acceptability of Three Bowel Cleansing Regimens

The effectiveness and acceptability of three colon cleansing regimens for colonoscopy were compared in a prospective study in 271 patients stratified as in- and out-patients and randomly assigned to either I) a diet and Senna laxative (X-prep), combined with a saline enema (n = 88); II) 41 of a polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution (Golytely) (n = 90); or III) a combined regimen of Cascara-Salax laxative (PicoSalax) and 1.51 Golytely (n = 93). Patients and colonoscopists indicated independently their overall impression of palatability and convenience and the completeness of the preparation, respectively, on 0- to 10-cm visual analogue scales. No differences were found between the regimens, either for the patients' impression of palatability or for the convenience of the preparation. A significantly cleaner colon was obtained with regimen II in outpatients than with regimen I (p = 0.02), whereas no differences were found either between regimens I and III or between regimens II and III. With regimen I, II, and III, 14%, 8%, and 12% of the patients, respectively, had scores indicating inadequate preparation. Outpatients (n = 175) had significantly cleaner colon than inpatients (n = 96) (p less than 0.001). In conclusion, no clinically important differences were found between the three bowel preparation regimens. An oral irrigation regimen is acceptable to the patients and may be preferable because it provides more flexibility to the endoscopic laboratory.

Sennahaltiges Laxans: Übertritt in Muttermilch?

The excretion of rhein, a cathartic with active metabolite from sennosides, was investigated in breast milk samples of 15 post-partum women for at least 24 h after the intake of a therapeutic dose (15 mg sennosides/day) of a standardized, fiber containing senna laxative (Agiolax). Rhein was analyzed by a HPLC-method with a lower limit of detection at 1 ng/ml rhein, taking into account a possible binding as monoglucuronide and monosulfate. Maximal concentrations up to 27 ng/ml and in 89% values below 10 ng/ml were measured. Related to the daily milk volume, 73% of the women excreted less than 2 ng rhein/day. Based on median values, 0.017% of the sennoside intake (calculated as rhein) was excreted in breast milk. The amount of rhein transmitted to the infant is therefore 0.3% of the rhein intake of the mother. This is far below the oral rhein dose necessary for inducing a laxative effect. Accordingly, none of the breast-fed infants (n = 8) showed any difference in stool consistency in comparison with the non breast-fed infants.

Relevance of Rhein Excretion into Breast Milk

The excretion of rhein, a laxatively active metabolite of sennosides, was investigated in 100 breast milk samples of 20 post-partum women after intake of a standardized senna laxative (Agiolax), which also contains seeds of Plantago ovata as bulk substances. After daily doses of 5 g of the senna laxative containing 15 mg sennosides for 3 days, the rhein concentration in milk samples from every lactation during 24 h post-dose varied between 0 and 27 ng/ml with values below 10 ng/ml in 94%. Based on median values, 0.007% of the sennoside intake (calculated as rhein) was excreted in breast milk. None of the breast-fed infants had an abnormal stool consistency. Assuming a (theoretical) complete metabolism of sennosides to rhein in the mother, the amount of rhein delivered to the infant (ng/kg b.w.) is by the factor 10(-3) below the rhein intake of the mother.

Review of safety and efficacy of senna laxatives

Review of safety and efficacy of senna laxatives

Senna laxative abuse may cause finger clubbing

Senna laxative abuse may cause finger clubbing

Applications of HPLC for the Analysis of Natural Products

In a comparison of adsorption to reversed phase chromatography examples optimal separation of digitalis glycosides will be given. Possibilities for both gradient elution and construction of low - cost gradients and their application to extracts of senna glycosides will be discussed. Various aspects of sample application and procedures for compound concentration will be shown in connection with trace analysis.

Two-dimensional column liquid chromatographic technique for resolution of complex mixtures

Summary The improvement of a given high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system (better selectivity, α; more theoretical plates,N) in order to be able to handle complex separation problems is often tedious and costly. The possible alternatives may be gradient elution or column-switching techniques, but they do not always lead to the desired effects. A two-dimensional HPLC separation technique (similar to the well known two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography), which permits the use of two different separation mechanisms, would often be highly desirable. The possibilities of such an HPLC device have been investigated. It consists of a first column filled with gel permeation chromatographic (GPC) material, which is coupled via a loop injection device with a second column containing reversed-phase material. Such a device permits the on-line collection of fractions from the first column and direct injection into the second chromatographic system. The size of the fractions in the first separation is flexible and is controlled by the frequency of injection on to the second column. By exploiting pre-concentration phenomena on the second, reversed-phase column, fractions of several millilitres can be collected and injected without a loss in resolution in the following chromatographic step. The second separation (second dimension) can even be coupled with a solvent gradient for further separation enhancement. The combination of GPC and reversed-phase chromatography was used for the separation of complex plant extracts. Seven fractions with volumes of about 1.5 ml per fraction were subjected to the reversed-phase separation in the second dimension. The sequences for fraction collection and re-injection are automatically controlled. The aim of this investigation was to obtain a better separation and more information on a mixture of senna glycosides.

The action of sennosides and related compounds on human colon and rectum.

The direct action of intraluminal senna and related compounds on the human colon and rectum has been investigated. Motility was recorded by balloon kymography with recording units inserted into well established transverse colostomies or into the rectum. The motility of the colon was not changed by intraluminal senna glycosides but the introduction of senna previously incubated with faeces or Esch. coli stimulated the colon to peristalt. The peristalsis was similar to that stimulated by rheinanthrone, an oxanthrone produced by chemical hydrolysis and reduction of senna. Both activated senna and rheinanthrone appeared to act in the colon by contact stimulation. No peristaltic response was stimulated in the rectum, either with activated senna or with rheinanthrone.

Clinical Study of Senna Administration to Nursing Mothers: Assessment of Effects on Infant Bowel Habits

Fifty nursing mothers were given regular doses of a senna compound (Senokot Granules) and 50 received mineral oil or magnesia (Magnolax) to determine whether senna was an effective laxative and whether senna affected the bowel habits of infants of nursing mothers. Senna laxative was effective in 49 of 50 mothers. Infant bowel habits were not affected by senna administration to nursing mothers. The evidence suggests that the active principles of senna if they are transmitted in breast milk have no effect on the evacuation patterns of nursed infants.