Roshanak Salari
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Title: Evaluating the clinical efficacy of Guggulu resin on constipation
Biography
Biography: Roshanak Salari
Abstract
Chronic constipation is one of the most common complaints in clinical assessments. Regarding various problems caused by chronic constipation, numerous treatment methods have been proposed. Traditional and complementary medicine can be used to manage many functional disorders. Persian medicine has considered 15 reasons for constipation. One of the drugs in Persian medicine with laxative effects is Guggulu (Commiphora mukul) resin. Regarding to the supporting approach of World Health Organization to traditional medicine and the increasing popularity of traditional medicines and herbal remedies, the clinical effects of Guggulu on functional constipation is evaluated in this study. This controlled clinical trial study was carried out in outpatients with functional constipation based on the ROME III. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first group was given oral administration of lactulose syrup daily at a laxative dose for one month, and the second group Guggulu resin 3 g daily in 3 divided doses for one month. Intensity and frequency of constipation were assessed before, mid and at the end of the intervention period, and one month after termination of intervention. In this study, the effect of Guggulu resin on the intensity and frequency of constipation was investigated. There was no significant difference in the intensity and frequency of constipation between the two groups at baseline (P=0.755). In second week, although constipation severity decreased in both groups, but because of more reduction in control group, the difference between two groups was statistically significant (P<0.001). One month after treatment, the difference between two groups was insignificant (P=0.93). In both groups, the severity of constipation, one month after the intervention, increased again. In this time increasing in constipation severity was more in control than intervention group so the difference became significant again (P<0.001). The same pattern was observed in frequency of constipation. This study showed that Guggulu resin can be used as an alternative treatment in chronic functional constipation, although final approval requires further study.