The anthranoid purgatives

The anthranoid purgatives: how soon does it show?

Eight to twelve hours: the glycosides pass the small bowel and are freed by the colonic bacteria.

How does it run?

In a dose, a soft stool with some griping; in excess, watery diarrhoea with colic and loss of potassium, and with months of use the dark-stained colon (melanosis coli, harmless), dependence of the bowel, and low potassium that endangers the heart. The urine turns red or brown. Madder’s anthraquinone lucidin is genotoxic, and aloe-emodin and emodin were listed by the European Union in 2021 as not permitted in food supplements.

What is done for it?

Stopping; potassium; fluids.

Historical and descriptive, not medical advice. In a poisoning, call a poison centre or emergency services.

Which substances in the database cause it?

C

PlantCassia, flower ofFior di cassia The sweet black pulp of the pods of Cassia fistula, the Indian laburnum; not the bark spice called cassia.Canale

C

CompoundCompound fumitoryFumoterra composta A syrup or compound of fumitory, Fumaria officinalis, with other herbs.Canale

D

CompoundDiacatholicon A “universal” purgative electuary of the old apothecary, based on senna, rhubarb, cassia, and tamarind with various seeds.Canale

H

CompoundHiera picra“The holy bitter” A compound purge of aloes with cinnamon, mastic, saffron, and other aromatics.Caution

L

CompoundLenitive electuaryElettuario lenitivo A mild compound laxative paste of the Galenic pharmacopoeia, typically of senna, polypody, tamarind, cassia pulp, prunes, raisins, and violets, made up with sugar.Canale

M

PlantMadderRubia Rubia tinctorum. A scrambling perennial grown since antiquity for the red dye in its root.

M

PlantMyrobalansMyrobalani The dried fruits of Terminalia chebula, T. bellirica, and Phyllanthus emblica.

R

PlantRhubarbRabarbaro The root of Chinese rhubarb, Rheum officinale and R. palmatum, long brought to Europe overland through the Levant; not the garden rhubarb stalk.Canale

Y

PlantYellow dockCurled dock; dock Rumex crispus. A tall, coarse weed of waste ground with wavy-edged leaves and a tall spike of rust-brown seeds.