Plant Polysaccharide Relieves Constipation

BEIJINGResearchers from the Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology have found an antidiabetic polysaccharide from Inula japonica (IJP) relieves constipation, according to results published online ahead of print in Phytotherapy Research.

Researchers gave both normal and constipated mice IJP at doses of 100 and 400 mg/kg once then tested for vermicular motion, start time of defecation, number and weight of stool. In normal mice, gastrointestinal propulsive rate was increased by 9.79 percent and 10.42 percent; the start time of defecation was shortened by 37.27 percent and 44.06 percent; and the number of feces increased by 115.4 percent and 130.8 percent after IJP administration. In constipated mice, defecation start time was shortened by 9.69 percent and 30.52 percent; defecation granules raised by 22.09 percent and 39.53  percent; and wet feces weights were increased by 23.50% percent and 39.14 percent, compared with the untreated constipated mice.

They concluded consumption of IJP effectively improved bowel movement, stool output, and IJP may be practical in relieving constipation in the elderly diabetic population.