Protective effects of medicinal plant-derived metabolites on slow transit constipation via the ENS-ICC-SMC pathway

Slow transit constipation (STC) is a type of functional constipation resulting from a lack of intestinal motility. The primary symptoms are challenging defecation and desiccated feces, which may readily result in perianal, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and psychological disorders. The structural...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zu Gao, Liwen Fu, Wenjun Bai, Junwei Liang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1598806/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849723919042347008
author Zu Gao
Liwen Fu
Wenjun Bai
Junwei Liang
author_facet Zu Gao
Liwen Fu
Wenjun Bai
Junwei Liang
author_sort Zu Gao
collection DOAJ
description Slow transit constipation (STC) is a type of functional constipation resulting from a lack of intestinal motility. The primary symptoms are challenging defecation and desiccated feces, which may readily result in perianal, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and psychological disorders. The structural and morphological impairment of the enteric nervous system (ENS), along with the dysfunction of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), are the primary contributors to the onset and progression of STC. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has emerged as an alternative for the therapeutic prevention and treatment of STC. Metabolites obtained from botanical drugs, including quercetin and nobiletin, may ameliorate symptoms of STC, presenting a possible therapeutic approach for STC. This review summarizes metabolites derived from botanical drugs, including flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, polysaccharides, anthraquinones, and phenylpropanoids, emphasizing their regulatory mechanisms in the treatment of STC via the ENS-ICC-SMC pathway, while also addressing future challenges and developmental directions.
format Article
id doaj-art-043d09e7c9014cee89f743bf417b8181
institution DOAJ
issn 1663-9812
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pharmacology
spelling doaj-art-043d09e7c9014cee89f743bf417b81812025-08-20T03:10:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-06-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15988061598806Protective effects of medicinal plant-derived metabolites on slow transit constipation via the ENS-ICC-SMC pathwayZu Gao0Liwen Fu1Wenjun Bai2Junwei Liang3College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaInnovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaAffiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaAffiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaSlow transit constipation (STC) is a type of functional constipation resulting from a lack of intestinal motility. The primary symptoms are challenging defecation and desiccated feces, which may readily result in perianal, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and psychological disorders. The structural and morphological impairment of the enteric nervous system (ENS), along with the dysfunction of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), are the primary contributors to the onset and progression of STC. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has emerged as an alternative for the therapeutic prevention and treatment of STC. Metabolites obtained from botanical drugs, including quercetin and nobiletin, may ameliorate symptoms of STC, presenting a possible therapeutic approach for STC. This review summarizes metabolites derived from botanical drugs, including flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, polysaccharides, anthraquinones, and phenylpropanoids, emphasizing their regulatory mechanisms in the treatment of STC via the ENS-ICC-SMC pathway, while also addressing future challenges and developmental directions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1598806/fullslow transit constipationmetabolites from botanical drugstraditional Chinese medicinepharmacological effectsENS-ICC-SMC pathway
spellingShingle Zu Gao
Liwen Fu
Wenjun Bai
Junwei Liang
Protective effects of medicinal plant-derived metabolites on slow transit constipation via the ENS-ICC-SMC pathway
Frontiers in Pharmacology
slow transit constipation
metabolites from botanical drugs
traditional Chinese medicine
pharmacological effects
ENS-ICC-SMC pathway
title Protective effects of medicinal plant-derived metabolites on slow transit constipation via the ENS-ICC-SMC pathway
title_full Protective effects of medicinal plant-derived metabolites on slow transit constipation via the ENS-ICC-SMC pathway
title_fullStr Protective effects of medicinal plant-derived metabolites on slow transit constipation via the ENS-ICC-SMC pathway
title_full_unstemmed Protective effects of medicinal plant-derived metabolites on slow transit constipation via the ENS-ICC-SMC pathway
title_short Protective effects of medicinal plant-derived metabolites on slow transit constipation via the ENS-ICC-SMC pathway
title_sort protective effects of medicinal plant derived metabolites on slow transit constipation via the ens icc smc pathway
topic slow transit constipation
metabolites from botanical drugs
traditional Chinese medicine
pharmacological effects
ENS-ICC-SMC pathway
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1598806/full
work_keys_str_mv AT zugao protectiveeffectsofmedicinalplantderivedmetabolitesonslowtransitconstipationviatheensiccsmcpathway
AT liwenfu protectiveeffectsofmedicinalplantderivedmetabolitesonslowtransitconstipationviatheensiccsmcpathway
AT wenjunbai protectiveeffectsofmedicinalplantderivedmetabolitesonslowtransitconstipationviatheensiccsmcpathway
AT junweiliang protectiveeffectsofmedicinalplantderivedmetabolitesonslowtransitconstipationviatheensiccsmcpathway