title: Curcuma longa L. as a therapeutic agent in intestinal motility disorders. 2: Safety profile in mouse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Curcuma extract exerts a myorelaxant effect on the mouse intestine. In view of a possible use of curcuma extract in motor functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, a safety profile study has been carried out in the mouse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty mice were used to study the in vitro effect of curcuma on gallbladder, bladder, aorta and trachea smooth muscular layers and hearth inotropic and chronotropic activity. The myorelaxant effect on the intestine was also thoroughly investigated. Moreover, curcuma extract (200 mg/Kg/day) was orally administered to twenty mice over 28 days and serum liver and lipids parameters were evaluated. Serum, bile and liver bile acids qualitative and quantitative composition was were also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the intestine, curcuma extract appeared as a not competitive inhibitor through cholinergic, histaminergic and serotoninergic receptors and showed spasmolytic effect on K(+) induced contraction at the level of L type calcium channels. No side effect was observed on bladder, aorta, trachea and heart when we used a dose that is effective on the intestine. An increase in gallbladder tone and contraction was observed. Serum liver and lipids parameters were normal, while a slight increase in serum and liver bile acids concentration and a decrease in bile were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although these data are consistent with the safety of curcuma extract as far as its effect on the smooth muscular layers of different organs and on the heart, the mild cholestatic effect observed in absence of alteration of liver function tests must be further evaluated and the effective dose with minimal side effects considered.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Micucci
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aldini
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cevenini
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colliva
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spinozzi
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montagnani
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camborata
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camarda
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiarini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzella
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Budriesi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D030024:Curcuma; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism; D011968:Receptors, Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D008055:Lipids; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011968:Receptors, Histamine; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C012596:turmeric extract