• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1345-1350
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• 2019

Our recent study has revealed that in vivo intestinal transit rate (ITR) in normal mice was significantly increased by the administration of an aqueous extract of dried Gentiana scabra rhizomes and roots (GS-W) in a dose-dependent manner. Following on from our previous study, the effect of GS-W on ITR was measured in mice with experimentally induced gastrointestinal motility dysfunctions (GMDs) in the present study. GS-W showed no significant acute toxicity even at an oral dose of 5 g/kg to mice. ITR was significantly retarded in the GMD mice compared with that in normal mice, and this retardation was significantly recovered by the oral administration of GS-W in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the ITR value of GS-W at a dose of 1 g/kg appeared to be higher than that of cisapride, which was predominantly prescribed for human patients with various GMDs in the late 1900s but was withdrawn from the market in 2000 due to its fatal side effects. The current results suggest that GS-W is a potential substitute for cisapride to prevent or alleviate human GMDs.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.383-390
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• 2009

To investigate the regulatory mechanism underlying the contractile response in the intestinal smooth muscle of the nile tilapia (Orechromis niloticus), we used pharmacologic and molecular approaches to identify the muscarinic subreceptors and the intracellular signaling pathways involved in this motility. Myography assays revealed that an M1- and M3-subtype selective antagonist, but not a M2-subtype selective antagonist, inhibited carbachol HCl (CCH)-induced intestinal smooth muscle contraction. In addition, a phospholipase C inhibitor, but not an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, blocked the contractile response to CCH. We also cloned five muscarinic genes (OnM2A, OnM2B, OnM3, OnM5A, and OnM5B) from the nile tilapia. In the phylogenetic analysis and sequence comparison to compare our putative gene products (OnMs) with the sequences obtained from the near complete teleost genomes, we unexpectedly found that the teleost fish have respectively two paralogous genes corresponding to each muscarinic subreceptor, and other teleost fish, except zebrafish, do not possess muscarinic subreceptor M1. In addition, the expression pattern of the nile tilapia muscarinic subreceptor transcripts during CCH-induced intestinal smooth muscle contraction in the proximal intestinal tissue was analyzed by real-time PCR surveys and it was demonstrated that CCH increased the OnMs mRNA expression rapidly and transiently.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 1981

In 1944 Cavallito and Bailey first extracted an essential oil, a powerful antibacterial principle, from the garlic and named it allicin. Later Stoll and Seeback elucidated that allicin was produced from alliin by the enzymatic action of arinase. Damaru observed the depressor responses following intraperitoneal administration of garlic juice in cats. And Thiersch presented evidence that garlic had a protective action against experimental arterosclerosis in cholesterol-fed animals. On the other hand it was also reported that anemias were caused by long-term ingestion of garlic as a result of reduction in hemoglobin and RBC. From the experiment in which the effect of garlic on the blood sugar level was studied, Lee insisted garlic elevated blood sugar level. However, August and Jain claimed that hypoglycemia was induced by garlic administration. Recently Bordia and Bansal suggested that essential oils extracted from onion and garlic have a strong preventive effect on hyperlipemia and prolonged coagulation time resulted from fat-feeding. Furthermore Bordia et al indicated that garlic exerted a strong fibrinolytic activity. In early 1920 s Sugihara reported that essential oil of garlic not only decreased arterial blood pressure but also had a paralytic effect on the isolated heart and intestinal strip of animals. The present study was proposed to investigate the effect of garlic juice and the mechanism of its action on the motility of the isolated rabbit duodenum. The motility of the isolated duodenum was recorded on polygraph by means of force transducer connected with Magnus apparatus. And the isolated duodenum was separtely pretreated with $acetylcholine(5{\times}10^{-7}\;gm/ml)$, $pilocarpine(2.5{\times}10^{-6}\;gm/ml)$, $histamine(5{\times}10^{-6}\;gm/ml)$ and barium $chloride(2.5{\times}10^{-5}\;gm/ml)$ in order to find out interations of these drugs with ASJ. The results obtained were as follows; At concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5% and 1.0% ASJ markedly inhibited contractions of isolated duodenum while tonus as well as contractility of the isolated intestine were decreased also with 0.5% and 1.0% ASJ. Since ASJ markedly abolished augmented motility of isolated intestine by histamine and partly reduced that by $BaCl_2$, it is strongly suggested that inhibitory action of ASJ on the intestinal motility is caused mainly by its antihistamine effect and partly by its direct action on the intestinal smooth muscle.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.609-616
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• 2017

Ardipusilloside-I is a natural triterpenoid saponin, which was isolated from Ardisia pusilla A. DC. The aim of the study was to evaluate the stimulation of ardipusilloside-I on gastrointestinal motility in vitro and in vivo. The experiment of smooth muscle contraction directly monitored the contractions of the isolated jejunal segment (IJS) in different contractile states, and the effects of ardipusilloside-I on myosin were measured in the presence of $Ca^{2+}$-calmodulin using the activities of 20 kDa myosin light chain ($MLC_{20}$) phosphorylation and myosin $Mg^{2+}$-ATPase. The effects of ardipusilloside-I on gastro emptying and intestinal transit in constipation-predominant rats were observed, and the MLCK expression in jejuna of constipated rats was determined by western blot. The results showed that, ardipusilloside-I increased the contractility of IJS in a dose-dependent manner and reversed the low contractile state (LCS) of IJS induced by low $Ca^{2+}$, adrenaline, and atropine respectively. There were synergistic effects on contractivity of IJS between ardipusilloside-I and ACh, high $Ca^{2+}$, and histamine, respectively. Ardipusilloside-I could stimulate the phosphorylation of $MLC_{20}$ and $Mg^{2+}$-ATPase activities of $Ca^{2+}$- dependent phosphorylated myosin. Ardipusilloside-I also stimulated the gastric emptying and intestinal transit in normal and constipated rats in vivo, respectively, and increased the MLCK expression in the jejuna of constipation-predominant rats. Briefly, the findings demonstrated that ardipusilloside-I could effectively excite gastrointestinal motility in vitro and in vivo.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Socheongryong-tang, a traditional herbal medicine, on gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders (inflammatory and diabetic models) in mice. Methods: The in vivo effects of Socheongryong-tang on GI motility were investigated by calculating percent intestinal transit rates (ITR) and gastric emptying (GE) values using Evans Blue and phenol red, respectively, in normal mice and in mice with experimentally induced GI motility dysfunction (GMD). GMD models were induced by acetic acid and streptozotocin. Results: In normal ICR mice, ITR and GE values were significantly and dose-dependently increased by the intragastric administration of Socheongryong-tang (0.0025~0.25 g/kg). The ITR values (%) of GMD mice were significantly lower than those of normal mice, and these reductions were significantly and dose-dependently inhibited by Socheongryong-tang. Conclusions: These results suggest that Socheongryong-tang is a good candidate for the development of a prokinetic agent that may prevent or alleviate GMD.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 2019

Gluten proteins are key to developing a unique quality of flour because they confer viscosity, cohesiveness, and elasticity in the dough. However, gluten can impede digestion and absorption in gluten-sensitive individuals. In this study, enteritis was induced in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) salt. The mice later received a diet consisting of 3%, 12%, or 30% fermented noodles with degraded gluten (FNDG) or 30% normal noodle flour for 8 weeks. FNDG did not alter the growth performance or body composition. However, FNDG resulted in increased amylase activity in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.001), and it also improved the digestive capacity. FNDG at 30% concentration increased the level of gastrin (p<0.01) implying increased gut motility. The serotonin receptor levels were significantly reduced by FNDG at 12% (p<0.05) and 30% (p<0.01) concentrations. These findings indicate that a diet containing FNDG could help in the recovery from intestinal inflammation with improving digestive ability and gut motility. Overall, the inclusion of degraded gluten in the diet was found to enhance digestion, gut motility, and absorption in mice.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 1983

Intestine is innervated by an interconnected plexus of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers. Sympathetic influence causes inhibition of intestinal motility mediated by both ${\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-adrenergic$ receptors. The mechanism of intestinal relaxation by ${\beta}-receptors$ has been extensively studied, but the function of ${\alpha}-receptors$ in intestinal motility is still unclear. Although it is suggested that catecholamine reduces acetylcholine release and this may play an important role in ${\alpha}-receptor$ mediated intestinal relaxation, there is no definite evidences about the mechanism and site of action of ${\alpha}-receptor$ mediated relaxation. In this experiment, therefore, the effect and site of action of ${\alpha}-receptor$ agonists were investigated in the guinea pig ileum using electrical field stimulation. The results are summarized as follows : 1) Electrical field stimulation elicited tonic contraction in isolated guinea pig ileum ana this contraction was completely inhibited by the pretreatment of tetrodotoxin or atropine. 2) Norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine inhibited the contraction induced by electrical field stimulation but methoxamine and phenylephrine had little effects. 3) Inhibitory effects of norepinephrine and dopamine was partially blocked by yohimbine and phentolamine pretreatment. But haloperidol and propranolol pretreatment cause no effects on the electrical field stimulation induced contraction. Inhibitory effect of dopamine was completely blocked by both haloperidol and yohimbine pretreatment. 4) Inhibitory effects of norepinephrine and dopamine were little affected by the pretreatment with hexamethonium. It is suggested that electrical field stimulation causes tonic contraction of guinea pig ileum by releasing acetylcholine from postganglionic fiber, and this release is blocked by presynaptic ${\alpha}-receptor$ activation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.175-185
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate effects of electro-acupuncture's stimulated frequency, intensity, duration at 5736 on tile Small Intestine Motility in Rats. Methods The motor activity of small intestine in rats was evaluated by intestinal transportation rate. Changes in tile motility of ileum in vivo was measured at 10 minutes after electro-acupuncture. Various kinds of stimulus-frequency were used in this experiment: 2 Hz, 50 Hz, 100 Hz, 2 Hz-4 trains, 8 Hz groups treated with EA of the condition in S mA, 1 ms pulse duration, 30 minutes stimulated duration. Three different stimulus-intensity were used: 1, 5, 10 mA groups treated with EA of the condition in 2 Hz, 1 ms pulse duration, 30 minutes stimulated duration. Six different stimulus-duration were used: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 minutes groups treated with EA of the condition in 2 Hz, 5 mA, 1 ms pulse duration. Results : 2 and 100 Hz groups significantly increased the small intestine motility, but 50 Hz group did not induce a significant change. Besides, small intestine motility was significantly increased only in 5 mA intensity (5 times twitch). futhermore, at least 20 minutes EA treatment was necessary to increase the small intestine motility. Conclusion : Those basic data form this study can be applied to established the effective treatment of EA for gastrointestinal diseases in the clinical field.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 1980

It has long teen known in herbal medicine that the mugwort not only exerts a strong hemostatic and parasiticidal actions but also has therapeutic effects for stomachache and diarrhea. In recent pharmaceutical botany the mugwort is known to have antipyretic and astringent actions also. Among the major principles which have been found in the leaves and stems of mugwort are inulin, alkaloids, vitamines, and esestial oil. It is well known that santonin, one of the well known parasiticides, is one of the glucosides extracted from the limited species of mugwort. The present study was undertaken to investigate effects of mugwort(Artemisia asiatica Nakai) on the motility of isolated rabbit duodenum. The results obtained are as follows: At does of 0.2%, 0.5% and 1. 0% AAJ(Artemisia asiatica juice) markedly enhanced contractility of isolated duodenum and tonus of the intestine was also augmented with doses of 0.5% and 1.0%. The augmentative effect of AAJ on intestinal motility was not affected by pretreatment with epinephrine and avil while it was completely abolished by atropine. Therefore it is strongly suggested that augmentative action of AAJ on duodenal motility was exerted solely through muscarinic cholinergic receptors.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.sup1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2009

Some pediatric patients who can not eat orally depend on enteral tube feedings, and some patients require more nutrients and calories to achieve the catch-up growth. If a patient is counting on the parenteral nutrition, early initiation of enteral feeding, orally or enterally, is a very good for the intestinal mucosal maturity and motility. There are numerous kinds of formulas and supplements for the enteral feeding for neonates, infants, and children. Depending on the intestinal symptoms, allergic symptoms, requirement of special nutrients, we can choose regular infant formula (milk-based, soy-based), protein hydrolysate formula, amino acid hydrolysate formula, elemental formula. Proper use of these formulas would help for the pediatric patients to recover from their diseases, to facilitate the intestinal mucosal maturity and to achieve their goal of growth.