Aloe-emodin cascara sagrada

Ca.sca.ra. Sagrada. Cascara sagrada, also known as sacred bark, chitten, dogwood, coffeeberry, bearberry, bitter bark, and bearwood, is the dried bark of Jdamnus Purshiana DeCandoUe. It is ia the form of browa, purpHsh browa, or brownish red flattened or transversely curved pieces, 1- to 5-mm thick, and has a characteristic odor and bitter taste. It should be collected at least one year prior to use. The active constituents are aloe-emodin... 

Aloe-emodin, found in cascara sagrada, is being researched as a possible treatment for leukemia. This herb, which has had a place in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia since 1890, is one of the most popular herbal medicines in the world. It is included in many over-the-counter laxatives and is prescribed more than 2.5 million times a year. The bark must be dried for up to 1 year before it can be used officially as a laxative. 

Emodin cathartics Cascara sagrada Senna Rhubarb Aloe... 

The primary active ingredients of cascara sagrada include cascarosides A, B, C, and D, but barbaloin, chrysaloin, chryophanol, emodin, and aloe-emodin are also present (Tyler, 1994 Anonymous, 1996). The anthrone glucofrangulin is present in the cortex of the European species Rhamni frangula (De Witte, 1993). As with senna and aloe constituents, these anthrones produce an active secretion of water and electrolytes within the lumen of the small intestine. In addition, the anthrones inhibit absorption of water and electrolytes from the large intestine. This causes an increase in the volume of bowel contents, and strengthens the dilatation pressure in the intestine to stimulate peristalsis (Anonymous, 1996). 

Hydroxy emodin, co-hydroxy emodin, and aloe-emodin, metabolites of the cascara sagrada constituents emodin and chrysophanol, appear to be genotoxic (Mueller et al., 1998). 

The main anthraquinone-containing plants are cascara sagrada Rhamnus purshiana), senna, rhubarb, aloes, dock and St John s wort. Rheum-emodin is a typical simple anthraquinone from rhubarb root Rheum palmatum). 

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