title: Prokinetic effect of black tea on gastrointestinal motility.
abstract: The gastrokinetic effects of hot water extract of black tea [Camellia sinensis, (L) O. Kuntze (Theaceae)] on gastrointestinal motility were studied both in vivo and in vitro. The extract significantly accelerated the gastrointestinal transit (GIT) in vivo in mice. These facilitatory effect was reduced after pretreatment with atropine, hemicholinium-3, morphine, indomethacin, McN-A-343 and L-arginine. In guinea pig ileum, the extract facilitated the peristaltic reflex in response to pressures in normal preparation. The black tea extract and L-NMMA (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) significantly reduced the electrical field stimulated nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) relaxation of isolated rat fundal strips. The extract markedly enhanced the tonic ('hump') responses to transmural stimulation in longitudinal muscle of guinea pig ileum which was unaltered in the presence of atropine. These findings suggest a cholinergic involvement and a partial role of prostaglandin and nitric oxide in the mechanism of action of black tea extract on gastrointestinal motility. To determine the effective constituents in black tea responsible for this activity, the effect of black tea polyphenols on GIT were also studied. Thearubigin fraction (but not theaflavin) accelerated GIT significantly which suggests its involvement in the prokinetic effect of black tea.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Calcutta.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Besra
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vedasiromoni
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ganguly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D020448:Ericales / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000187:drug effects; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine