Effects of Hwangryunhaedok-tang on gastrointestinal motility function in mice

Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation of the Effect of Smilacis Glabrae Rhixoma on Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder

Gastrointestinal motility disorder (GMD) is a disease that causes digestive problems due to inhibition of the movement of the gastrointestinal tract and is one of the diseases that reduce the quality of life of modern people. Smilacis Glabrae Rhixoma (SGR) is a traditional herbal medicine for many diseases and is sometimes prescribed to improve digestion. As a network pharmacological approach, we searched the TCMSP database for SGR, reviewed its constituents and target genes, and analyzed its relevance to gastrointestinal motility disorder. The effects of the SGR extract on the pacemaker activity in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and gastric emptying were investigated. In addition, using the GMD mouse model through acetic acid (AA), we investigated the locomotor effect of SGR on the intestinal transit rate (ITR). As a result of network pharmacology analysis, 56 compounds out of 74 candidate compounds of SGR have targets, the number of targets is 390 targets, and there are 904 combinations. Seventeen compounds of SGR were related to GMD, and as a result of comparing the related genes with the GMD-related genes, 17 genes (active only) corresponded to both. When looking at the relationship network between GMD and SGR, it was confirmed that quercetin, resveratrol, SCN5A, TNF, and FOS were most closely related to GMD. In addition, the SGR extract regulated the pacemaker activity in ICC and recovered the delayed gastric emptying. As a result of feeding the SGR extract to AA-induced GMD mice, it was confirmed that the ITR decreased by AA was restored by the SGR extract. Through network pharmacology, it was confirmed that quercetin, resveratrol, SCN5A, TNF, and FOS were related to GMD in SGR, and these were closely related to intestinal motility. Based on these results, it is suggested that SGR in GMD restores digestion through the recovery of intestinal motility.

Herbal Medicines in the Treatment of Dyspepsia: An Overview

This review focuses on the efficacy of herbal medicines for managing dyspepsia in humans and animals. Searches were conducted on the PubMed, Science Direct, and Medline databases, for publications in the last 3 years. In each database, the search terms used consisted of the 2 key terms describing the disorder and subtypes plus each of the terms relating to the therapy. The key terms used were "natural product" and "medicinal plant" in a cross-over with "dyspepsia" and "functional dyspepsia" (i.e., gastroprotection, Helicobacter pylori infection, prokinetic). We included all human and animal studies on the effects of herbal medicines reporting the key outcome of dyspepsia symptoms. Preclinical studies using critically validated models showed that most medicinal plants with gastroprotective action had antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antisecretory effects. Moreover, several species displayed anti Helicobacter pylori and prokinetic efficacy. The data availability of controlled clinical studies is currently minimal. The use of different methodologies and the minimal number of patients raise doubts about the effects of these preparations. Only adequate clinical trials with scientifically validated methods can determine whether different herbal medicines can be used as viable alternatives to the conventional pharmacological treatments used to control dyspepsia symptoms.

Modulating and opposite actions of two aqueous extracts prepared from Cinnamomum cassia L. bark and Quercus ilex L. on the gastrointestinal tract in rats

Cinnamon bark and evergreen oak acorns, natural sources of functional ingredients, are effective for those suffering from diarrhea, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the dissimilar phytochemical composition and the opposite potential actions of Cinnamomum cassia bark (ACCE) and Quercus ilex aqueous extracts (GIAE) on gastrointestinal (GI)-physiological activities and disruptions. An HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS assay was used to identify the distinctive qualitative and quantitative profiles of phenolic compounds. The GI-physiological action of both extracts on gastric emptying (GE) and gastrointestinal transit time (GIT) were evaluated using the phenol-red colorimetric method and a test meal containing charcoal/gum arabic in water. Loperamide (LOP)-induced colonic constipation and delayed emptying of the stomach were used to explore the reverse effects of ACCE/GIAE on GI disorders. HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS showed that the main phenolic compounds detected in ACCE are trans-cinnamic acid, quinic acid, protocatechuic acid and rosmarinic acid, while gallic acid, quinic acid and protocatechuic acid are the major chemical constituents found in GIAE. GIAE at two doses (150 and 300 mg kg-1) exerted a reduction of GE (66.40% and 60.87%, respectively) compared to a control group (70.25%). However, ACCE at the same concentrations induced contradictory actions on GE/GIT in comparison to GIAE and antagonistic synthetic pharmacological drugs in rats. The protective effect of CCAE against constipation induced by LOP in rats was accompanied by a strong antioxidant property related to moderation of intracellular-mediator disorders. An absence of toxic actions was revealed in the case of the hematological profile and biochemical parameters. Hence, in-depth investigations of these nutrients of both extracts may help future researchers to derive the underlying mechanisms and potential molecular targets for the development of physiologically functional foods and future therapies.

Hwangryunhaedok-Tang Exerts Neuropreventive Effect on Memory Impairment by Reducing Cholinergic System Dysfunction and Inflammatory Response in a Vascular Dementia Rat Model

Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HRT) is a traditional oriental herbal formula used in Asian countries for treating inflammatory diseases and controlling fever. Our present study aimed to determine whether HRT has therapeutic effects for patients with vascular dementia (VaD) using a bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) rat model and assessing spatial memory impairment and activation of neuroinflammation. BCCAO was performed in male Sprague Dawley rats to induce VaD, and oral HRT was administered daily for 30 d. Our data showed that HRT ameliorated BCCAO-induced memory and cognitive impairment in behavioral tests. In addition, HRT reversed cholinergic dysfunction and neuronal damage in the hippocampus of BCCAO rats. Furthermore, HRT attenuated microglial activation and reduced the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) induced by BCCAO. Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of HRT using index compounds from the herbal composition revealed that both HRT ethanol extract and commercial HRT granules primarily comprise geniposide, baicalin, and berberine. Our study showed that HRT administration resulted in the prevention of neuronal injury induced by BCCAO through improvement of cholinergic dysfunction and inhibition of neuroinflammatory responses, suggesting that HRT may have potential as a treatment for VaD.

Coptidis rhizoma and its main bioactive components: recent advances in chemical investigation, quality evaluation and pharmacological activity

Background

Coptidis rhizoma (CR) is the dried rhizome of Coptis chinensis Franch., C. deltoidea C. Y. Cheng et Hsiao or C. teeta Wall. (Ranunculaceae) and is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of various diseases including bacillary dysentery, typhoid, tuberculosis, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, empyrosis, pertussis, and other illnesses.

Methods

A literature survey was conducted via SciFinder, ScieneDirect, PubMed, Springer, and Wiley databases. A total of 139 selected references were classified on the basis of their research scopes, including chemical investigation, quality evaluation and pharmacological studies.

Results

Many types of secondary metabolites including alkaloids, lignans, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saccharides, and steroids have been isolated from CR. Among them, protoberberine-type alkaloids, such as berberine, palmatine, coptisine, epiberberine, jatrorrhizine, columamine, are the main components of CR. Quantitative determination of these alkaloids is a very important aspect in the quality evaluation of CR. In recent years, with the advances in isolation and detection technologies, many new instruments and methods have been developed for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the main alkaloids from CR. The quality control of CR has provided safety for pharmacological applications. These quality evaluation methods are also frequently employed to screen the active components from CR. Various investigations have shown that CR and its main alkaloids exhibited many powerful pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hypoglycemic, anti-Alzheimer and hepatoprotective activities.

Conclusion

This review summarizes the recent phytochemical investigations, quality evaluation methods, the biological studies focusing on CR as well as its main alkaloids.

Hwangryunhaedok-tang induces the depolarization of pacemaker potentials through 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors in cultured murine small intestine interstitial cells of Cajal

AIM

To investigate the effects of a water extract of Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHTE) on the pacemaker potentials of mouse interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs).

METHODS

We dissociated ICCs from small intestines and cultured. ICCs were immunologically identified using an anti-c-kit antibody. We used the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration to record the pacemaker potentials generated by cultured ICCs under the current clamp mode (I = 0). All experiments were performed at 30 °C-32 °C

RESULTS

HHTE dose-dependently depolarized ICC pacemaker potentials. Pretreatment with a 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist (Y25130) or a 5-HT₄ receptor antagonist (RS39604) blocked HHTE-induced pacemaker potential depolarizations, whereas pretreatment with a 5-HT₇ receptor antagonist (SB269970) did not. Intracellular GDPβS inhibited HHTE-induced pacemaker potential depolarization and pretreatment with a Ca²⁺-free solution or thapsigargin abolished the pacemaker potentials. In the presence of a Ca²⁺-free solution or thapsigargin, HHTE did not depolarize ICC pacemaker potentials. In addition, HHTE-induced pacemaker potential depolarization was unaffected by a PKC inhibitor (calphostin C) or a Rho kinase inhibitor (Y27632). Of the four ingredients of HHT, Coptidis Rhizoma and Gardeniae Fructus more effectively inhibited pacemaker potential depolarization.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that HHTE dose-dependently depolarizes ICC pacemaker potentials through 5-HT₃ and 5-HT₄ receptors via external and internal Ca²⁺ regulation and via G protein-, PKC- and Rho kinase-independent pathways.