Aquaporins Alteration Profiles Revealed Different Actions of Senna, Sennosides, and Sennoside A in Diarrhea-Rats

Senna and its main components sennosides are well-known effective laxative drugs and are used in the treatment of intestinal constipation in the world. Their potential side effects have attracted more attention in clinics but have little scientific justification. In this study, senna extract (SE), sennosides (SS), and sennoside A (SA) were prepared and used to generate diarrhea rats. The diarrhea rats were investigated with behaviors, clinical signs, organ index, pathological examination, and gene expression on multiple aquaporins (Aqps) including Aqp1, Aqp2, Aqp3, Aqp4, Aqp5, Aqp6, Aqp7, Aqp8, Aqp9, and Aqp11. Using qRT-PCR, the Aqp expression profiles were constructed for six organs including colon, kidney, liver, spleen, lung, and stomach. The Aqp alteration profiles were characterized and was performed with Principle Component Analysis (PCA). The SE treatments on the rats resulted in a significant body weight loss (p < 0.001), significant increases (p < 0.001) on the kidney index (27.72%) and liver index (42.55%), and distinguished changes with up-regulation on Aqps expressions in the kidneys and livers. The SS treatments showed prominent laxative actions and down regulation on Aqps expression in the colons. The study results indicated that the SE had more influence/toxicity on the kidneys and livers. The SS showed more powerful actions on the colons. We suggest that the caution should be particularly exercised in the patients with kidney and liver diseases when chronic using senna-based products.