Polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350)

Polyethylene glycol 3350 is a high-molecular-weight, water-soluble synthetic polymer derived from ethylene oxide. It is commonly used as an osmotic laxative to treat chronic constipation and for bowel cleansing prior to medical procedures. PEG 3350 is chemically and biologically inert, minimally absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, and has high patient tolerability. Beyond therapeutic use, it serves as a pharmaceutical excipient, a component in cosmetics, a precipitant for protein and DNA isolation in molecular biology, and a crowding agent in biochemical research due to its ability to exert osmotic pressure and solubilize molecules. PEG 3350 is not considered a therapeutic target but rather an active pharmaceutical ingredient and versatile excipient.

Other names

Polyethylene oxide (PEO)Polyoxyethylene (POE)Macrogol 3350

Osmotic water retention in colon (prevents water reabsorption, increases osmotic pressure, softens stool, increases stool volume; thus stimulates peristalsis and facilitates defecation)