The present application relates to the field of probiotics and prebiotics, and in particular to the use of Citrus aurantium, Chichorium intybus,
Elsholtzia stauntoni and
Hamamelis virginiana as
prebiotic mimics (pseudobiotics) that are both medicinal and edible. We first demonstrated that the water extracts of these medicinal and edible herbs significantly improved the
constipation symptoms of model mice, improved the
pathological damage of the colon of constipated mice, significantly increased the expression of proteins related to
intestinal peristalsis and maintenance of the intestinal barrier, promoted the
colonization of
beneficial bacteria in the intestines of constipated mice, and exhibited effects similar to prebiotics. Therefore, any one of Citrus aurantium, Chichorium intybus,
Elsholtzia stauntoni and
Hamamelis virginiana or a combination thereof, or a mixture prepared with other substances, can be used to treat
constipation in mice, and the
mechanism of action may be related to promoting
intestinal peristalsis, enhancing the function of the intestinal barrier, and increasing the abundance of
beneficial bacteria in the intestines.