Cistanche deserticola: A Homology-of-Medicine-and-Food Herb with Intestinal-Moistening and Laxative Effects
- 1College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan 750004, China
- 2Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- 3School of Food Science and Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Abstract
Cistanche deserticola is a perennial parasitic herb of the Orobanchaceae family and a traditional Chinese medicinal material included in the homology-of-medicine-and-food category. It has traditionally been used to nourish the kidney and essence and to relieve constipation. Recent studies have investigated its potential effects on intestinal motility, gut microbiota, and fecal water regulation. This review summarizes the reported chemical constituents of C. deserticola, including phenylethanoid glycosides, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and sugar alcohols, and examines the available evidence regarding their potential contributions to laxative effects. Possible mechanisms involving intestinal motility, neurotransmitter-related signaling, gut microbiota and microbial metabolites, and aquaporin expression are discussed. Evidence is considered hierarchically: findings from identified C. deserticola preparations are distinguished from indirect findings involving other Cistanche species, isolated compounds, or multi-component herbal formulations, while proposed causal pathways are treated as hypotheses unless directly tested. The evidence base is predominantly preclinical, and human studies are limited; the specific contributions of individual constituents, the causal relationships underlying the proposed mechanisms, and the long-term safety of different preparations remain insufficiently established. This review also discusses challenges in raw-material standardization, evidence-based quality control, and functional food development, highlighting the need for further mechanistic, toxicological, and clinical studies to support the rational development of C. deserticola-based products.
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BibTeX
@article{cheng2026cistanche,
title = {{Cistanche deserticola: A Homology-of-Medicine-and-Food Herb with Intestinal-Moistening and Laxative Effects}},
author = {Zhen-Hong Cheng and Ning Liu and Yue Liu and Lin Ma and Xiao-Bing Lan and Chun-Hao Zhu and Chao-Kun Wei and Jian-Qiang Yu and Wei Wei},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/nu18213645},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3645},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cistanche deserticola: A Homology-of-Medicine-and-Food Herb with Intestinal-Moistening and Laxative Effects
AU - Zhen-Hong Cheng
AU - Ning Liu
AU - Yue Liu
AU - Lin Ma
AU - Xiao-Bing Lan
AU - Chun-Hao Zhu
AU - Chao-Kun Wei
AU - Jian-Qiang Yu
AU - Wei Wei
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18213645
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3645
AB - Cistanche deserticola is a perennial parasitic herb of the Orobanchaceae family and a traditional Chinese medicinal material included in the homology-of-medicine-and-food category. It has traditionally been used to nourish the kidney and essence and to relieve constipation. Recent studies have investigated its potential effects on intestinal motility, gut microbiota, and fecal water regulation. This review summarizes the reported chemical constituents of C. deserticola, including phenylethanoid glycosides, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and sugar alcohols, and examines the available evidence regarding their potential contributions to laxative effects. Possible mechanisms involving intestinal motility, neurotransmitter-related signaling, gut microbiota and microbial metabolites, and aquaporin expression are discussed. Evidence is considered hierarchically: findings from identified C. deserticola preparations are distinguished from indirect findings involving other Cistanche species, isolated compounds, or multi-component herbal formulations, while proposed causal pathways are treated as hypotheses unless directly tested. The evidence base is predominantly preclinical, and human studies are limited; the specific contributions of individual constituents, the causal relationships underlying the proposed mechanisms, and the long-term safety of different preparations remain insufficiently established. This review also discusses challenges in raw-material standardization, evidence-based quality control, and functional food development, highlighting the need for further mechanistic, toxicological, and clinical studies to support the rational development of C. deserticola-based products.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -