title: Curcuma longa extract exerts a myorelaxant effect on the ileum and colon in a mouse experimental colitis model, independent of the anti-inflammatory effect.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Curcuma has long been used as an anti-inflammatory agent in inflammatory bowel disease. Since gastrointestinal motility is impaired in inflammatory states, the aim of this work was to evaluate if Curcuma Longa had any effect on intestinal motility.
  
  
  METHODS
  The biological activity of Curcuma extract was evaluated against Carbachol induced contraction in isolated mice intestine. Acute and chronic colitis were induced in Balb/c mice by Dextran Sulphate Sodium administration (5% and 2.5% respectively) and either Curcuma extract (200 mg/kg/day) or placebo was thereafter administered for 7 and 21 days respectively. Spontaneous contractions and the response to Carbachol and Atropine of ileum and colon were studied after colitis induction and Curcuma administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curcuma extract reduced the spontaneous contractions in the ileum and colon; the maximal response to Carbachol was inhibited in a non-competitive and reversible manner. Similar results were obtained in ileum and colon from Curcuma fed mice. DSS administration decreased the motility, mainly in the colon and Curcuma almost restored both the spontaneous contractions and the response to Carbachol after 14 days assumption, compared to standard diet, but a prolonged assumption of Curcuma decreased the spontaneous and Carbachol-induced contractions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcuma extract has a direct and indirect myorelaxant effect on mouse ileum and colon, independent of the anti-inflammatory effect. The indirect effect is reversible and non-competitive with the cholinergic agent. These results suggest the use of curcuma extract as a spasmolytic agent.
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Policlinico S.Orsola and Dipartimento di Scienza dei Metalli, Elettrochimica e Tecniche Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. rita.aldini@unibo.it
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aldini
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Budriesi
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Micucci
authors.forename: Pierfranco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ioan
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Errico-Grigioni
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sartini
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guidetti
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marocchi
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cevenini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montagnani
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiarini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000378:metabolism*; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001285:Atropine; D002217:Carbachol