Herbal Anthraquinones

What Are Herbal Anthraquinones?

Many herbs are proved to be excellent laxatives and purgatives of superior value, and such herbs are common in the kingdom of plants. Herbs can cause various actions and reactions on your body system and organs, and gastrointestinal irritation is considered one of the negative actions that are caused by an herb. However this negative action could be a boon to your gastro-intestinal system, because of the significantly altered gastric motility in your overall digestive process. Gastrointestinal irritation may be caused by several herbal factors including saponins, volatile oils and anthraquinones. Herbal anthraquinones are possibly the most important herbal factors that exert an action of irritation over your gastrointestinal system.

Herbal anthraquinones are found in a majority of plants and herbs, though its quantities are high in Senna and Rhubarb. One of the major pharmacological actions that occur after consuming herbal anthraquinone is a reduced transit time in the digestive process that may inhibit the quicker absorption of ingested drugs and medications.

Herbal anthraquinones are often yellow in color and very bitter in taste; their usual form is that of glycosides and the active forms are always stored in the bark of the plant. The more powerful agents that are stored in bark of plants like Frangula and Cascara are stored more than a year or two, before they are consumed for treatment. The aging process actually reduces the degree of irritability, due to the changes in the glycoside and anthraquinone chemical properties.

Effects of Herbal Anthraquinones 

When you orally ingest hydroquinones, their glycosides are rapidly hydrolyzed by bacterial colonies in the bowel, which results in a lag period of 10 hours between the ingestion process and softening of the stools. When you overdose by taking an excessive amount of anthraquinone, it will create a feeling of griping.

Anthraquinone laxative herbs possess qualities of “sacral irritants” and hence contraindicated in pregnancy. Senna has been shown to be very safe in pregnancy and lactation. Its syrup is also used as tonics for children. Over doses of anthraquinone laxative herbs is a matter of immense concern and its extended use can lead to gradually declining bowel tonicity and extended periods of constipation.

Herbs With Herbal Anthraquinones

Some of the herbs that contain herbal anthraquinones are: 

• Aloe vera
• Senna
• Rhubarb
• Yellow Dock
• Butternut

Anthraquinones are also found in many other herbs and plants, usually in minute amounts, especially in species of Polgyonum. There are small quantities of anthraquinones in some vegetables, like cabbage and lettuce.

Plant bark, roots and leaves are rich in hydroquinone and the isolate of hydroquinone is not really easy to extract in its pure form. You may prefer to limit the daily intake of anthraquinones to 25-30 mg per day, and restricting the duration of consistent use to 9-12 months, will be a satisfactory means of avoiding all serious problems relating to stimulant laxatives. Traditionally, herbal anthraquinones are also very effective natural dyes.