Plant-derived purgatives
These laxatives have an irritant effect on the lining of the colon that stimulates the muscles of the colon. They also accumulate water in the colon. Plant-derived purgatives include remedies made from extractions of senna fruit or leaves, aloe, buckthorn or rhubarb.
Plant-derived laxatives are activated by bacteria in the intestine. It is believed that the resulting chemical products inflame the cells of the intestinal wall, allowing water to penetrate the intestine and triggering elimination. The active ingredients in these laxatives are known as anthraquinones. In most commercial preparations, the amount of this active ingredient is carefully standardised. However, because these laxatives are made from plants and are not synthetic, it is possible that they contain small quantities of undesirable impurities. There is some concern that certain impurities in these laxatives have potential to cause cancer.
