The powdered husks of flea seeds (ripe seeds of different plantago species, e.g. Plantago psyllium, also called ispaghula) are used as bulking mucilloids. The water-soluble psyllium fibres mainly consist of indigestible polysaccharides. Taken with plenty of fluids, psyllium leads to the increase of the fecal mass; the stool becomes softer and peristalsis is stimulated. This eventually also causes a reduction of intraluminal rectosigmoid pressure. Psyllium fibres bind bile acids, which causes increased bile acid excretion. This causes an increased hepatic synthesis of bile acids and a certain reduction of blood cholesterol levels.

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