title: Effect of ethanol extracts of three Chinese medicinal plants with laxative properties on ion transport of the rat intestinal epithelia.
abstract: The effects of ethanol extracts of three Chinese medicinal plants Dahuang (Rheum palmatum L.), Badou (Croton tiglium L.), and Huomaren (Cannabis sativa L.), on ion transport of the rat intestinal epithelia were studied. Rat intestinal epithelia mounted in an Ussing chamber attached with voltage/current clamp were used for measuring changes of the short-circuit current across the epithelia. The intestinal epithelia were activated with current raised by serosal administration of forskolin 5 microM. Ethanol extracts of the three plants all augmented the current additively when each was added after forskolin. In subsequent experiments, ouabain and bumetanide were added prior to ethanol extracts of these medicinal plants to determine their effect on Na(+) and Cl(-) movement. The results suggest that ethanol extracts of the three medicinal plants may affect the Cl(-) movement more directly than Na(+) movement in the intestinal epithelial cells. The results provide evidence for the pharmacologic mechanism of the three Chinese medicinal plants on the intestinal tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, 500 Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jong-Chang
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Shuli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Weng-Cheng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry; D002400:Cathartics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D029802:Croton / Q000737:chemistry; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012250:Rheum / Q000737:chemistry; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D002712:Chlorides; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005576:Colforsin; D000431:Ethanol; D012964:Sodium