Effects of traditional Chinese herbal medicine San-HuangXie-Xin-Tang on gastrointestinal motility in mice

AIM: To investigate the effects of San-Huang-Xie-XinTang(SHXXT), a herbal product used in traditional Chinese medicine, on gastrointestinal(GI) motility in mice.METHODS: The in vivo effects of SHXXT on GI motility were investigated by measuring the intestinal transit rates(ITRs) using Evans blue in normal mice and in mice with experimentally induced GI motility dysfunction(GMD).RESULTS: In normal ICR mice, ITRs were significantly and dose-dependently increased by SHXXT(0.1-1 g/kg). GMD was induced by injecting acetic acid or streptozotocin intraperitoneally. The ITRs of GMD mice were significantly reduced compared to normal mice, and these reductions were significantly and dose-dependently inhibited by SHXXT(0.1-1 g/kg).CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SHXXT is a novel candidate for the development of a prokinetic agent that may prevent or alleviate GMD.

Changes in Small Intestinal Motility and Related Hormones by Acupuncture Stimulation at Zusanli(ST 36) in Mice

Objective： To clarify the effects of acupuncture stimulation at Zusanli（ST 36） on the hormonal changes. Methods： Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice received acupuncture stimulation at acupoint ST 36 or Quchi（LI 11） once a day for 3 or 5 days in the acupuncture-stimulated groups, but not received in the normal group（n=6 in each group）. On day 3 or 5, animals were given 0.1 m L of charcoal orally with a bulbed steel needle, 30 min after the last acupuncture stimulation. Ten minutes later, mice were anesthetized, and the intestinal transit and the concentrations of vasoactive intestinal peptide（VIP）, motilin, ghrelin and gastrin in the serum were measured. Results： Compared to no acupuncture stimulation, acupuncture stimulation at ST 36 for 5 days increased the intestinal transit and down-regulated the concentration of VIP and up-regulated the concentrations of motilin, ghrelin and gastrin（P〈0.05 or 0.01）, whereas acupuncture stimulation at LI 11 did not change them significantly（P〉0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture stimulation at ST 36 for 5 days enhances the small intestinal motility and regulates the secretion of hormones related to small intestinal motility.

Extracts from Paeonia lactiflora Pallas, Rehmannia Glutinosa var. Purpurea Makino, Perilla Frutescens var. Acuta Kudo may increase the endometrial receptivity through expression of leukemia inhibitory factor and adhesion molecules

OBJECTIVE: To find out the combination of the extracts from Paeonia lactiflora Pallas(PL), Rehmannia Glutinosa var. Purpurea Makino(RG), Perilla Frutescens var. Acuta Kudo(PF) to increase endometrial receptivity.METHODS: Herbal medicines were extracted with boiling water and polysaccharides were removed.We examined the effect of PL, RG, and PF(PRP), a most effective herbal formula deduced from constitutive ingredient herbs of Antai Yin which is composed of PRP, on the leukemia inhibitory factor(LIF) expression and endometrial receptivity.RESULTS: The combination of the extracts from PRP induced the LIF expression in Ishikawa cells and increased the adhesion between Ishikawa and JAr cells. In addition, PRP-induced attachment of JAr cells onto Ishikawa cells and expression of adhesion molecules, ITGAV, ITGB5, CD44 s, and Lselectin, are significantly reduced by knock-down of LIF expression.CONCLUSION: Induced by the combination of the PRP extracts, the adhesion between trophoblast and endometrial cells are mediated by expression of LIF and adhesion molecules. Thus, we suggest the combination of the PRP extracts may be a novel therapy for enhancing embryo implantation rate.