Chemical formula: C₁₄H₈O₄ Molecular mass: 240.211 g/mol PubChem compound: 2950
Dantron is an anthraquinone stimulant laxative, which acts on nerve endings in the colonic mucosa.
Like other anthraquinone compounds, dantron is partially absorbed from the small intestine, where it has no action, and is carried via the circulation to the large intestine where it acts on the nerve endings of the myenteric plexus to stimulate the muscles of the large intestine. Dantron begins to act between 6 to 12 hours after administration.
The oral administration of dantron has been reported to cause intestinal tumours in rats and mice.
The substance is hepatocarcinogenic in both species.
No evidence exists for a ‘no-effect’ dose. As such there may be a risk of such effects in humans.
In the presence of renal failure/insufficiency hypermagnesemia may occur.
Rodents treated for 16 months with doses approximately 300 times those used in humans associate dantron with the development of intestinal and liver tumours. However two major studies did not show any association between ingestion of anthraquinones and cancer in humans. Because of the concern over rodent carcinogenicity use of dantron tends to be restricted to the elderly and terminally ill patients.
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