Moistening intestines and promoting bowel movement

"Moistening intestines and promoting bowel movement" (known as 润肠通便 or Run Chang Tong Bian in Traditional Chinese Medicine) is a therapeutic principle or pharmacological effect rather than a specific molecular target such as a protein, receptor, or enzyme. It describes the clinical outcome of alleviating constipation by increasing stool moisture and facilitating easier transit through the colon. In modern medicine, this physiological effect is achieved through diverse classes of drugs that target specific molecular entities, including the Guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) receptor, Chloride channel 2 (ClC-2), or the 5-HT4 receptor. Because this term identifies a desired drug action or a TCM functional category, it does not refer to a unique biochemical structure that can be directly mapped to a canonical molecular classification. Therefore, it is categorized as an incorrect target name in the context of molecular drug discovery.

Other names

润肠通便Run Chang Tong BianMoistening the intestines to relieve constipationLaxative effect

This is a therapeutic effect rather than a single molecular mechanism. It is achieved by increasing the water content in the intestinal lumen (osmotic effect), stimulating intestinal electrolyte and fluid secretion (e.g., via GCCR or CLCN2), or enhancing colonic peristalsis (e.g., via 5-HT4 receptors).