Medicinal plants used for the management of constipation: A systematic review

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal issue worldwide. Conventional laxatives are available, but due to their cost and side effects, there is a need for alternative plant-based medicines. This study systematically reviews medicinal plants used for constipation management and evaluates their mechanisms of action. Three online databases were used for review research using specified keywords. A collection of literature was published between January 2014 to November 2024. The key search terms included “plant”, “herb”, “laxative”, “extract”, “constipation”, “constipated rats”, “moisture content”, “water content”, and “transit ratio”. Twenty medicinal plants were identified that increased faecal water content (6.3%–175%) and gastrointestinal transit ratio (1.9%–77.9%) in preclinical studies. The mechanism of action was thematically categorized under four mechanisms which are, 1) bulk-forming effect, 2) stimulate secretion and inhibit absorption of fluid 3) alteration of gut motility, 4) modulation of tryptophan metabolism. The twenty plants improved stool parameters and gastrointestinal transit via various mechanisms. These findings highlight the potential of plant-based laxatives, warranting further investigation into their bioactive compounds and clinical safety.