We investigated the
laxative and anti-diarrheal activity of
polycarbophil, an insoluble hydrophilic
polymer, in comparison with other agents used for treating functional bowel disorder (FBD). In naive rats,
polycarbophil (500 mg/kg) increased fecal weight and water contents without producing
diarrhea.
Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) did not produce evident changes in bowel movement. Picosulfate markedly produced
diarrhea.
Loperamide,
trimebutine and
granisetron decreased stool output dose-dependently.
Constipation, indicated by decrease in fecal weight, was produced by
loperamide and
clonidine in rats.
Polycarbophil (500 mg/kg) and CMC increased fecal weight without
diarrhea. Conversely
trimebutine further decreased fecal weight in constipated rats.
Polycarbophil (500 mg/kg) suppressed
diarrhea induced by
castor oil, and at 250-500 mg/kg, it produced shaped stools in animals with stools loosened by
prostaglandin E2,
serotonin or
carbachol in mice.
Polycarbophil (500 mg/kg) also reduced stools in rats with stool output increased by wrap restraint stress (WRS). CMC had no effect in the
diarrhea models, except for
carbachol-induced
diarrhea, and WRS-induced evacuation.
Loperamide,
trimebutine and
granisetron inhibited
diarrhea production and WRS-induced evacuation, except for
carbachol-induced
diarrhea. The results show that
polycarbophil prevents
constipation and
diarrhea without inducing
diarrhea or
constipation, which is different from the other agents. Hydrophilic
polymers such as
polycarbophil will be promising agents for the treatment of FBD.