Therapeutic Role of Natural Products Containing Tannin for Treatment of Constipation

Abstract

Many herbal plants and medicinal foods with laxative effects have been reported as novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of constipation and its related diseases. Indeed, several natural products containing tannins exhibit remarkable laxative effects in a constipation model. Therefore, we reviewed the laxative effects and the mechanism of action of natural products containing tannins because tannins have a wide range of pharmacological activities against human diseases. These products improved the excretion parameters, histological structure, mucin secretion and the downstream signaling pathway of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) in the constipation model. This review provides strong evidence that various medicinal plants containing tannins are important candidates for improving chronic constipation