Spasmolytic activity of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum extract on gastrointestinal motility involves muscarinic receptors, calcium channels and NO release
Open Access
- 1 January 2018
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Pharmaceutical Biology
- Vol. 56 (1), 559-566
- https://doi.org/10.1080/13880209.2018.1492000
Abstract
Context: Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum (ALR), the dry rhizome of Aquilaria agallocha R. (Thymelaeaeeae), has been widely used to treat emesis, stomachache and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Objective: This study evaluates the effects of ALR methanol extract on gastrointestinal motility (GIM) and possible mechanisms of the action involved. Materials and methods: In vivo, the study evaluated the effects of ALR (200–800 mg/kg) on gastric emptying and small intestinal motility in normal and neostigmine-induced adult KM mice. The in vitro effects of ALR (0.2–1.6 mg/mL) on GIM were performed on isolated jejunum of Wistar rats, pretreated with acetylcholine (ACh), KCl, CaCl2, and pre-incubation with l-NAME (a selective inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthase). Results: In vivo, ALR (800 mg/kg) decreased gastric emptying (70.82 ± 9.81%, p < 0.01, compared with neostigmine group 91.40 ± 7.81%), small intestinal transit (42.82 ± 3.82%, p < 0.01, compared with neostigmine group 85.53 ± 5.57%). In vitro, ALR concentration dependently decreased the contractions induced by ACh (10−5 M) and KCl (60 mM) with respective EC50 values of 0.35 and 0.32 mg/mL. The Ca2+ concentration–response curves were shifted by ALR to the right, similar to that caused by verapamil (the positive). The spasmolytic activity of ALR was inhibited by pre-incubation with l-NAME. Discussion and conclusions: ALR played a spasmolytic role in GIM, which is probably mediated through inhibition of muscarinic receptors, blockade of Ca2+ influx and NO release. This is the first study presenting a comprehensive description of the effects of ALR on GIM.Keywords
Funding Information
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015T81140)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (81503467)
This publication has 45 references indexed in Scilit:
- Neostigmine-induced contraction and nitric oxide-induced relaxation of isolated ileum from STZ diabetic guinea pigsAutonomic Neuroscience, 2011
- Large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel activation with NS1619 decreases myogenic and neurogenic contractions of rat detrusor smooth muscleEuropean Journal of Pharmacology, 2011
- Effects of Swertia japonica extract and its main compound swertiamarin on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motility in miceFitoterapia, 2011
- Antispasmodic and Antidiarrheal Activities ofValeriana hardwickiiWall. Rhizome Are Putatively Mediated through Calcium Channel BlockadeEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011
- Laxative effects of agarwood on low-fiber diet-induced constipation in ratsBMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2010
- The Four-Herb Chinese Medicine PHY906 Reduces Chemotherapy-Induced Gastrointestinal ToxicityScience Translational Medicine, 2010
- Roles of M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors in cholinergic nerve‐induced contractions in mouse ileum studied with receptor knockout miceBritish Journal of Pharmacology, 2006
- Effect of sodium fluoride on gastric emptying and intestinal transit in miceExperimental and Toxicologic Pathology, 2005
- Pathophysiological significance of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the gastrointestinal tractThe Esophagus, 2003
- Anti-ulcer effect in rats of bitter cardamon constituents.CHEMICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN, 1990