lignans and Diarrhea

Preliminary data suggest that flaxseed, a rich source of dietary lignans, may be a potentially effective treatment of hot flashes. A phase III, randomized, placebo, controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of flaxseed in reducing hot flashes.. Postmenopausal women with or without breast cancer were randomly assigned to a flaxseed bar (providing 410 mg of lignans) for 6 weeks versus a placebo bar. Participants completed daily, prospective, hot flash diaries during the baseline week, and then ate one study bar per day for 6 weeks while recording their daily hot flashes. The intraparticipant difference in hot flash activity between baseline and the last treatment week was the primary endpoint. Adverse effects were evaluated through a self-report and the Common Terminology Criteria assessment.. A total of 188 women were enrolled in this trial. The mean hot flash score was reduced 4.9 in the flaxseed group and 3.5 in the placebo group (P = 0.29). In both groups, slightly more than a third of the women received a 50% reduction in their hot flash score. Only one adverse effect was significantly different between groups, grade 1 pruritus, which was more common in the placebo group (8% vs 1%). Both groups reported abdominal distension, flatulence, diarrhea, and nausea. Adherence and ability to detect treatment assignment did not differ between groups.. The results of this trial do not support the use of 410 mg of lignans for the reduction of hot flashes. The bars were fairly well tolerated, with both groups reporting gastrointestinal effects, probably due to the fiber content.

Topics: Diarrhea; Dietary Fiber; Double-Blind Method; Female; Flatulence; Flax; Hot Flashes; Humans; Lignans; Menopause; Middle Aged; Nausea; Placebos; Prospective Studies; Treatment Outcome

To explore the regulatory mechanisms of magnolol and honokiol on calcium-activated potassium channels signaling pathway in Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-induced diarrhea mice, the concentrations of serum chloride ion (Cl(-)), sodium ion (Na(+)), potassium ion (K(+)) and calcium ion (Ca(2+)) were measured. Additionally, the mRNA expressions of calmodulin 1 (CaM), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha subunit (CaMKIIα) and beta subunit (CaMKIIβ), ryanodine receptor 1, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3 receptors), protein kinases C (PKC), potassium intermediate/small conductance calcium-activated channels (SK) and potassium large conductance calcium-activated channels(BK)were determined. A diarrhea mouse model was established using ETEC suspensions (3.29×10(9)CFU/ml) at a dosage of 0.02ml/g live body weight (BW). Magnolol or honokiol was intragastrically administered at dosages of 100 (M100 or H100), 300 (M300 or H300) and 500 (M500 or H500) mg/kg BW according to a 3×3 factorial arrangement. Magnolol and honokiol increased the Cl(-) and K(+) concentrations, further, upregulated the CaM, BKα1 and BKβ3 mRNA levels but downregulated the IP3 receptors 1, PKC, SK1, SK2, SK3, SK4 and BKβ4 mRNA expressions. Magnolol and honokiol did not alter the CaMKIIα, CaMKIIβ, ryanodine receptor 1, IP3 receptor 2, IP3 receptor 3, BKβ1 and BKβ2 mRNA expressions. These results clarify that magnolol and honokiol, acting through Ca(2+) channel blockade, inhibit the activation of IP3 receptor 1 to regulate the IP3-Ca(2+) store release, activate CaM to inhibit SK channels, and effectively suppress PKC kinases to promote BKα1 and BKβ3 channels opening and BKβ4 channel closing, which modulates the intestinal ion secretion.

Topics: Animals; Biphenyl Compounds; Calcium; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; Calmodulin; Chlorides; Diarrhea; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Ileum; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; Lignans; Male; Mice; Potassium; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; Protein Kinase C; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; Signal Transduction; Sodium

Diarrhea is a big problem in piglets. Cangpo Oral Liquid (COL) is a compound of Chinese herbal medicine. The preparation was fed to piglets had diarrheal disease in order to determine its anti-diarrhea activity and potential applications in vivo.. The contents of Berberine hydrochloride, Magnolol and Honokiol in COL were performed on HPLC analysis. Organ bath was used to investigate the effect of COL on peristaltic reflexes and peristaltic waves in vitro. And anti-diarrhea activity of COL was evaluated in clinical.. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and HPLC analyses showed that the contents of Berberine hydrochloride, Magnolol and Honokiol in COL were 970µg/mL, 130µg/mL and 300µg/mL, respectively. Administration of the COL to the organ bath caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of intestinal peristalsis. When the COL concentration in the bath was cumulatively increased, the amplitude and frequency of the peristaltic waves was lowered. The result of clinical efficacy of COL was very effective to diarrheic piglets. COL can possibly inhibit the curve of peristaltic waves in vitro; and clinical trial showed a statistically significant therapeutic effect in vivo.. In conclusion, COL can be used as an effective therapeutic agent. However, the ingredients, pharmacokinetics and specific signaling pathways of COL need to be further studied.

Topics: Animals; Antidiarrheals; Berberine; Biphenyl Compounds; Coptis; Diarrhea; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Female; Intestines; Lignans; Magnolia; Male; Peristalsis; Phytotherapy; Swine