Overview of research on the application of medicine food homologous bioactive ingredients to functional constipation

Medicine food homology (MFH) items are plants or foods that possess therapeutic characteristics and can be utilized as ingredients in food. In different cultures, people often use a variety of herbs, foods and plants to maintain good health. These homologues are considered to have potential pharmacological activities and are particularly important for the maintenance of gastrointestinal health. Functional constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder. The patients show symptoms such as difficulty in defecation, constipation and dry stool, which seriously affect the quality of life. Traditional treatments include lifestyle changes, dietary fiber supplementation and medication. Nevertheless, prolonged utilization of the medication might result in adverse reactions, and there are specific constraints in the management of functional constipation. Consequently, individuals are increasingly focusing on the homologous substances found in natural medicine that are also present in food and medicine, with the aim of discovering novel therapeutic approaches. In this paper, the research on functional constipation with drug and food homologous substances will be summarized, focusing on their role in promoting intestinal peristalsis, regulating intestinal flora, increasing fecal water and so on, so as to provide more effective treatment options for patients with functional constipation.