Ameliorating Effect and Potential Mechanism of Camellia Oil on Constipated Mice

Constipation is a global epidemic. To evaluate the ameliorating effect of camellia oil on constipation, two slow transit costive mice models were established by water deprivation or sucralfate gavage. Administration of camellia oil (4.0 and 8.0 mL/kg/day) significantly shortened the defecation time, increased defecation mass and fecal water content, with efficacies comparable to that of hemp seed oil. Intestinal propulsion test showed that camellia oil significantly enhanced the propelling rates of the charcoal powder in the intestine. Meanwhile, camellia oil also significantly decreased the serum levels of nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and increased serum substance P in costive animals. These results suggested that camellia oil can largely relieve slow transit constipation and enhance the gastrointestinal motility through modulation of serum gastrointestinal motility key factors such as NO, NOS and VIP and substance P.