Abstract
THE classical concept of the action of the vegetable cathartics is that they irritate the intestinal mucosa. As a result of this ‘irritation’ intestinal motility is increased, and it is assumed that fluid contents are hurried through the intestine so fast that water and electrolytes cannot be absorbed as they are normally because the bowel contents are in contact with the mucosal cells for too short a period of time1–3.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sollmann, T., in A Manual of Pharmacology (Philadelphia : W. B. Saunders Co., 1943).
Grollman, A., in Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, 1954).
Goodman, L. S., and Gilman, A., in The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (New York: Macmillan Co., 1956).
Watten, R. H., Morgan, F. M., Songkla, Y. N., Vanikiati, B., and Phillips, R. A., J. Clin. Invest., 38, 1879 (1959).
Huber, G. S., and Phillips, R. A., Proc. SEATO Conf. Cholera, Dacca, East Pakistan, U.S. National Institutes of Health, 37 (1962).
Ussing, H. H., and Zerahn, K., Acta Physiol. Scand., 23, 110 (1951).
Wilson, T. H., in Intestinal Absorption (Philadelphia and London : W. B. Saunders Co., 1962).
Fuhrman, F. A., Amer. J. Physiol., 171, 266 (1952).
Taylor, I. M., Weller, J. M., and Hastings, A. B., Amer. J. Physiol., 168, 658 (1952).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
PHILLIPS, R., LOVE, A., MITCHELL, T. et al. Cathartics and the Sodium Pump. Nature 206, 1367–1368 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/2061367a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2061367a0
This article is cited by
-
Comparison of phenolphthalein and phenolphthalein glucuronide on net water transport in rat ileum and colon
Digestive Diseases and Sciences (1983)
-
Intestinal filtration as a consequence of increased mucosal hydraulic permeability
Klinische Wochenschrift (1980)
-
A unique distribution of laxative-induced spike potentials from the small intestine of the dog
The American Journal of Digestive Diseases (1978)
-
Effect of phenolphthalein on the function and structure of rodent and human intestine
The American Journal of Digestive Diseases (1978)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.