Sennoside A
SenokotPubChem CID 73111 · 3D model
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Passes through the body unchanged until gut bacteria in the colon convert it into an active substance that both squeezes the colon's muscles and keeps extra water in the stool, together triggering a bowel movement.
How it works
Sennoside A passes through your stomach and small intestine without being absorbed or broken down. Only when it reaches your colon do bacteria living there convert it into the actual active substance. That substance does two things: it makes the muscles in your colon squeeze more, moving things along, and it keeps more water inside your colon instead of letting your body reabsorb it. More movement plus more water in the stool is what triggers a bowel movement, usually within 6 to 12 hours.
What it’s used for
Senokot is an over-the-counter laxative for occasional constipation. It usually produces a bowel movement within 6 to 12 hours, and the label advises not to use it for more than a week without a doctor's guidance.
- Mechanism
- Stimulant laxative (prodrug → rhein anthrone)
- Drug class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Gastrointestinal