Eucarbon® was developed in 1909 by the pharmacist Mag. F. Trenka and by Prof. Dr. W. Pauli.

Eucarbon® tablets contain only vegetable and mineral active ingredients and are produced with up-to-date production methods in accordance with GMP-Standards.

Eucarbon® stimulates the entire digestive system, increases colonic motility, has a mild laxative and spasmolytic effect, relieves gas pains and can also be regarded as a detoxifying agent (mild adsorbent).

Eucarbon® is a combination of anthranoid drugs (Senna and Rhubarb), Sulfur, and the mild adsorbent Vegetable Charcoal (carbo ligni) - ingredients which as single drugs/substances or in different combinations have been used as remedies for centuries in patients with intestinal complaints, mainly with constipation.

In the unique combination of this preparation the proven and generally accepted effects of the single ingredients have additional beneficial effects – presented in a standardized dosage form.It is a medicinal product with mainly laxative effects. It also regulates digestion in a totally natural way and provides for regular functioning of the digestive system.
The action of the preparation is due to the content of vegetable charcoal and the stimulatory action of anthraquinones and sulfur.
Furthermore Eucarbon® has a double effect against pain:
• the essential mint and fennel oils have well-known spasmolytic and carminative effects
• the amount of gas and tension in the abdominal cavity is reduced through adsorption, thus bringing about pain relief (mechanical effect).

Composition

Sennae folium:
Senna leaf consists of the dried leaflets of Cassia senna L.(C. acutifolia De Lile), known as Alexandrian or Khartoum senna, or Cassia angustifolia Vahl, known as Tinnevelly senna, or a mixture of the two species. It contains not less than 2,5 percent of hydroxyanthracene glycosides, calculated as sennoside B (C42H38O20; M, 863) with reference to the dried drug. The main active ingredients are anthraquinone glycosides.
The material complies with the German Monograph “Sennae folium” of the Commission E.
It is used as a laxative due to the main effects: reduced absorption of liquids and salts, increased peristaltic activity of small and large intestine, and stool softening.

Extractum Rhei:
Rhubarb consists of dried rhizome and roots of Rheum officinale Baillon or of Rheum palmatum Linné (Fam. Polygonaceae), or of other species (excepting Rheum Rhaponticum Linné), or of hybrids of Rheum, grown in China, deprived of the periderm tissues. The rheum species also contain anthraquinone glycosides (3 – 7,5% anthracene derivatives) and in addition tannins and antioxidative agents.
The material complies with the German Monograph (14), DAB 10, ÖAB 90, Helv. VII and Ph. Eur.
It is used as a laxative as well and has the main effects as for senna. As a result the stool remains soft and the action of the bowels is made easier.
Anthraquinone-content of Eucarbon®:
Referring to the Chemical-, Pharmaceutical- and Biological Documentation of Eucarbon®, the total content of anthraquinone is 3,30 ± 0,65 mg/tablet (2,65 – 3,95 mg/tablet).

Herbal Charcoal
Synonyms: (Carbo Ligni, vegetable charcoal)
Charcoal is a fine odorless, tasteless, black powder, free from grittiness. It is made from common charcoal by repeated nealing in closed containers and has a particularly detoxiction effect.
Classical experiments showed that vegetable charcoal has the potential to adsorb inorganic poisons as well as viruses, bacteria and their metabolites (bacterial toxins). It can adsorb many drugs including digoxin, yellow oleander, barbiturates, and tricyclic antidepressants. Charcoal neutralizes gases and toxins through adsorption and helps in cases of diarrhea and acute oral poisoning.

Sulfur:
Sulfur is an element of molecular weight 32. It is yellow, tasteless and odourless and usually used in the form of precipitated sulfur, which is an amorphous or microcrystalline powder.
It melts at around 118 - 120°C to form a yellow liquid, which becomes dark and viscous at around 160°C. It is soluble only to a slight extent in water and alcohol, but quite freely soluble in carbon disulfide, light petroleum and turpentine. The element is present in all living tissues.
When taken by mouth, sulfur is converted in the gut into alkali sulfides with mild disinfectant properties, stimulation of peristalsis and promotion of a mild laxative effect.
The essential mint and fennel oils have well-known spasmolytic and carminative effects.

All active and inactive substances are subject to Pharmacopoeia specification with the exception of vegetable charcoal, which deviates from European Pharmacopoeia specification.

Peppermint & Fennel essentials oils
The essential oils of peppermint & fennel are aromatic carminative that relieve flatulence. In addition peppermint oil exerts a muscle relaxant activity that alleviates intestinal colic. On the other hand the essential oils have a cholerectic effect & disinfectant properties.

Indications
1-Constipation:

Associated symptoms	Symptoms of complications
► Flatulence ► Bloating ► Abdominal pain ► Feeling of incomplete evacuation	► Anorexia ► Overflow diarrhea ► Confusion ► Nausea and vomiting ► Urinary dysfunction

2-Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a benign relapsing chronic disorder, characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel function. It is estimated that 9 to 22% of the general population has clinical symptoms of IBS (25) but only about 5% seek medical care. IBS is the most common diagnosis made by gastroenterologists and accounts for approximately 50% of all referrals.
lt contributes significantly to disability, days off work or school and health care costs; 69 to 85% of the patients report that they experienced difficulties in carrying out their daily activities.
Patients complain of general symptoms of abdominal pain (most frequently located in the lower left quadrant), abdominal cramping, changes in bowel habits / stools (e.g., stools may be soft-formed with pencil-size diameter), flatulence and / or abdominal distension with the onset of symptoms usually weeks or months prior to seeking medical attention.
The cause of IBS is still unknown and abnormalities in gut motility fail to explain the diverse features of IBS. Symptoms of IBS may be related to stress, to depression, anxiety or other psychological manifestations, and food intolerance (most commonly lactose and gluten) or enteric infections. IBS is considered as a complex disease whereby clinical and therapeutical management is particularly difficult.

3-Radiological Examinations
Intestinal gas in excess impairs the quality of abdominal ultrasonic and X-ray investigations. Thus it is important to cleanse the bowel of its contents thoroughly before sonographic or radiological procedures such as barium enema or urography.
Standard regimens for emptying of the bowel prior to radiographic or sonographic examinations are laxatives and diet for 24 hours, occasionally supplemented by oral ingestion of an electrolyte polyethylene glycol solution or by an enema.
Especially for the elderly, the bowel preparation providing optimum cleansing of the bowel with the least associated discomfort and inconvenience for the patient must be found.

4-Further Indications
In some countries Eucarbon® is used as well in pregnant women suffering from constipation, gas, hemorrhoids and anal fissures, in post surgery situations for bedridden patients, in cases of constipation under the prescription of neuroleptics as well as in cases of bad breath caused by constipation.

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