Psyllium Husk
Psyllium Husk Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.
Platango seeds refer to the seeds collected from various species of plantago trees. It is found in some laxatives for treating occasional constipation and restoring regularity in bowel movements. Its potential benefit in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis has been studied .
Regardless, this agent is most predominantly used as a gentle laxative agent in many parts of the world that is more commonly referred as psyllium or psyllium husk.
The active ingredient psyllium husk is comprised of the episperm and collapsed adjacent layers removed from the seeds of Plantago afar L. or Plantago indica L. . Psyllium husk is abundant in alimentary fibres and mucilages, with its mucilage content in particular being higher than that of other plantago species . Specifically, psyllium husk is capable of absorbing up to 40 times its own weight in water . Psyllium husk consists of 85% water-soluble fibre - it is subsequently partly fermentable (in vitro 72% unfermentable residue) and acts by hydration in the bowel .
| Trade Name | Psyllium Husk |
| Generic | Plantago seed |
| Plantago seed Other Names | Psyllium, Psyllium husk |
| Type | |
| Protein binding | The protein binding of psyllium husk is not formally documented at this time. Regardless, because psyllium husk is largely not adsorbed when administered, it is believed that the drug may not exhibit any kind of protein binding . |
| Groups | Approved, Investigational |
| Therapeutic Class | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Available Country | |
| Last Updated: | September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am |
Uses
Psyllium Husk is an ingredient used in a variety of natural health products.
Indications include the treatment of patients needing a high fibre regime, perhaps for: (a) the relief of constipation, including constipation in pregnancy and the maintenance of regularity; (b) the management of bowel function in patients with colostomy, ileostomy, hemorrhoids, anal fissure, chronic diarrhea with diverticular disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcerative colitis .
Psyllium Husk is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Bowel Motility, Constipation
How Psyllium Husk works
Psyllium seeds are comprised of dietary fibre which, when mixed with water forms a gel-like mass that works as a mild laxative . This gel-like mass subsequently moves down a patient's digestive system and makes stools softer by increasing their water contents . At the same time psyllium seed lubricates the intestine, which improves the transit of stools . Moreover, as the presence of the gel-like mass increases the stool bulk it also increases the tension and/or the stretch stimulus in the bowel wall which serves to trigger bowel movements .
The dietary fibre of which psyllium husk is comprised is fermented to various degrees by bacteria in the colon, resulting in production of carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane, water, and short chain fatty acids, which are absorbed and brought into the hepatic circulation . In humans, such fibre reaches the large bowel in a highly polymerized form that is fermented to a limited extent, resulting in increased fecal concentration and excretion of short chain fatty acids .
Toxicity
Overdose with psyllium husk can cause abdominal discomfort, flatulence, and/or intestinal obstruction .
The LD50 of psyllium husk administered orally to mice has been observed in some studies to occur in doses up to 2940 mg/kg or 3360 mg/kg in rats .
Food Interaction
- Take with a full glass of water.
Volume of Distribution
Psyllium husk when administered as intended largely undergoes little absorption into the body and plasma.
Elimination Route
Psyllium husk is capable of hydration and swelling to form a mucilage because it is only partially solubilized . The polysaccharide dietary fibres of which psyllium husk is comprised of need to be hydrolyzed to monosaccharides before intestinal absorption can occur . The sugar residues of the xylan backbone and side chains are joined by beta-linkages however, which cannot be broken by human digestive enzymes .
Less than 10% of the mucilage gets hydrolyzed in the stomach, with formation of free arabinose . Intestinal absorption of the free arabinose is about 85% to 93% . As a consequence, psyllium remains predominantly in the gastrointestinal tract as a 'bulk' agent that passes largely unchanged throughout the gut . The agent has remarkable water holding capacity because of its high hemicellulose content .
Half Life
The half-life of psyllium husk is not formally documented at this time. Regardless, because psyllium husk is largely not adsorbed when administered, it is believed that the drug may not exhibit any kind of half-life .
Clearance
Psyllium husk when administered as intended largely undergoes little absorption into the body and plasma.
Elimination Route
Psyllium husk when administered as indicated is usually excreted in the faeces .
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