Taranjabin manna (wet honey) has been used as a laxative, antipyretic, expectorant and to treat/prevent newborn jaundice. Groups of rats (n=7) were gavaged taranjabin manna or placebo (controls) and number, weight and water content of fecal pellets were determined for 24h. Osmotic laxative effect in rats (n=5) was determined by injecting 0.5ml taranjabin solution, lactulose or saline into separate 4cm jejunum segments and measuring volume of contents in each segment after 1h. Intestinal transit time was evaluated in fasting rats (n=32) given taranjabin or lactulose by the phenol red test. Oral administration of taranjabin increased (p<0.001) number of fecal pellets and their percentage of water, but had no effect on intestinal transit time. Volume of contents in jejunum segments increased (P<0.05) with taranjabin or lactulose compared with placebo. Taranjabin may exert a laxative effect partly via osmotic infiltration of fluids into the intestine partly masked by delayed emptying of cecum contents.

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