title: Preliminary experimental research on the mechanism of liver bile secretion stimulated by peppermint oil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the choleretic effect and molecular mechanisms of action of peppermint oil (PO), the main component of Danshu capsules (Sichuan Jishengtang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Pengzhou, Sichuan Province, China).
  
  
  METHODS
  Bile secretion was measured by biliary drainage in rats. Total bile acids, total cholesterol and bilirubin in bile were determined. Cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels were assessed in HepG2 cells (a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PO significantly promoted bile and bile acid secretion in rats. It also increased bile acid efflux and decreased cholesterol levels (P < 0.01) in bile. In HepG2 cells the mRNA levels of CYP7A1 and FXR were significantly upregulated after treatment with PO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PO stimulates bile fluid secretion and thus has a choleretic effect. PO might play a role in upregulating CYP7A1 and FXR mRNA levels, suggesting that the molecular mechanisms are related to gene expression involved in bile acid synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zong
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Di Xiang
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Zhi Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Jian Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Xiao Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Lun Gen
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism*; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D036142:Mentha piperita; D023421:Models, Animal; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D001663:Bilirubin; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D002784:Cholesterol; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase; D010938:Plant Oils; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated; C015424:peppermint oil