Alkaloid-rich <em>Amomum tsaoko</em> extract relieves functional constipation by regulating the gastrointestinal motility and intestinal micro-ecosystem

<p class="0000" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><em><span lang="EN-US">Amomum tsaoko</span></em><span lang="EN-US"> is an important food and <span style="color: black;">medicinal</span> plant. Its dried fruit is rich in alkaloids and is known to have a notable laxative effect. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether alkaloids from <em>A. tsaoko</em> can relieve constipation. The present study sought to purify alkaloids from <em>A. tsaoko</em> via the macroporous resins method and to investigate the laxative activity of alkaloid-rich <em>A. tsaoko</em> extract (ARAE). HP-20 was <span style="color: black;">identified</span> as the most efficient resin for purifying alkaloids from <em>A. tsaoko</em>. ARAE was predominantly concentrated in indole-3-carboxaldehyde, p-octopamine, phyllalbine, synephrine, lumichrome, and isatidine. The <span style="color: black;">results of </span>animal experiments demonstrated that ARAE markedly <span style="color: black;">promoted</span> gastrointestinal motility and <span style="color: black;">shortened the</span> defecation time of mice with functional constipation (FC). ARAE not only significantly affected the serum level of AChE but also <span style="color: black;">upregulated</span> the expression of <em>5-HT4R</em>, <em>c-Kit,</em> <em>SCF</em> and <em>smMLCK</em> as well as the protein expression of c-Kit in the colon. Furthermore, ARAE increased the number of goblet cells in the colon, facilitated the secretion of acidic mucus, and <span style="color: black;">increased</span> the expression of intestinal barrier factors. Importantly, ARAE <span style="color: black;">had</span> a considerable influence on the structure and composition of the gut microbiota in mice with FC. The correlation analysis results suggested that ARAE may facilitate intestinal microecological balance by regulating key microbial populations, including <em>Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group</em>, <em>Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group</em>, <em>norank_f_Desulfovibrionaceae</em>, norank_o_Clostridia_vadinBB60_group, and <em>Faecalibaculum</em>. ARAE can alleviate FC by regulating gastrointestinal motility and <span style="color: black;">the </span>intestinal <span style="color: black;">microecosystem</span>. The potential applications of <em>A. tsaoko</em> and ARAE in the development of laxative health foods and pharmaceuticals are significant and warrant further investigation.</span>