The Sound of Evolution
Senna/Sennoside
番瀉苷
Mechanism of action:
Sennoside 進入大腸後，會被腸道菌叢分解為 rhein anthrone，才是實際具有瀉下作用的活性形式。Rhein anthrone 會刺激結腸壁的腸神經系統，增強蠕動收縮（peristalsis），縮短糞便在大腸中的停留時間。Rhein anthrone 也會抑制結腸上皮對水分與鈉離子的再吸收，同時促進氯離子與水分分泌進入腸腔，使糞便含水量上升、變軟。
Reference(s):
1. Esposito F et al. (2016). Sennoside A, derived from the traditional chinese medicine plant Rheum L., is a new dual HIV-1 inhibitor effective on HIV-1 replication. Phytomedicine.
2. Kon R et al. (2014). Rheinanthrone, a metabolite of sennoside A, triggers macrophage activation to decrease aquaporin-3 expression in the colon, causing the laxative effect of rhubarb extract. J Ethnopharmacol.
3. van Gorkom BA et al. (2001). Apoptosis induction by sennoside laxatives in man; escape from a protective mechanism during chronic sennoside use? J Pathol.