Morning glory seed keeps laxative effect while retains less subchronic toxicity after being fried

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Toxicology
• Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

• Morning glory seed (MGS) is traditionally used for constipation, especially in children.
• Fried MGS (MGSF) is clinically used to mitigate side effects, but its safety profile requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the chemical, pharmacodynamic, and toxicological mechanisms underlying the use of MGSF versus MGS.
• To compare the safety and efficacy of processed (MGSF) and unprocessed (MGS) morning glory seeds.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of MGS and MGSF chemical compositions using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS.
• Evaluation of laxative effects and subchronic toxicity of MGS and MGSF in animal models.
• Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of laxative action, including AQP3 protein expression.

Main Results:

• MGSF exhibited altered chemical profiles with fewer phenolic acids and more fatty acids compared to MGS.
• MGS demonstrated a stronger laxative effect than MGSF by downregulating aquaporin-3 (AQP3) expression.
• MGS induced greater subchronic toxicity, evidenced by reduced body weight and elevated liver, kidney, and colon damage markers (BUN, Cr, AST, ALP) compared to MGSF.

Conclusions:

• Processing MGS into MGSF preserves laxative efficacy while significantly reducing toxicity.
• The findings underscore the importance of processing MGS for safer clinical application in managing constipation.
• This study provides a scientific basis for the rational use of MGSF in traditional medicine.