[Effect of a plant extract combination preparation on gastrointestinal transit time and bile acid excretion]

The effect of a plant extract containing Rhizoma curcumae, Fructus silybi mariani, Herba chelidonii, Aloe, Radix podophylli paltati, Radix gentianae and Cortex chinae on the evacuation of feces and on the metabolism of bile acids was investigated with 8 healthy women for a period of 14 days. In the preliminary period there was a stoolweight of 105 +/- 16 g/day. Under treatment the weight of stool rose to 422 +/- 104 g/day. Frequency of stools increased from 1.1 +/- 0.2 evacuations/day to 3.3 +/- 1.1 evacuation/day. Transit time decreased from 64 +/- 20 hours to 18 +/- 4 hours. Elimination of bile acid amounted to 549 +/- 397 mumol/day. It increased under treatment to 908 +/- 832 mumol/day. No changes were found in the laboratory blood tests. The concentration of potassium in the blood also remained constant.