title: Castanea sativa Mill. extract contracts gallbladder and relaxes sphincter of Oddi in guinea pig: a natural approach to biliary tract motility disorders.
abstract: Impaired gallbladder motility is a contributing factor to gallstone formation. Since many drugs delaying intestinal motility inhibit gallbladder emptying, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect on gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi motility of a Natural Chestnut Wood Extract (NEC) that reduces intestinal motility. In order to evaluate the effect of the extract in normal- and high-risk gallstone conditions, the investigation was performed using tissues from animals fed normal and lithogenic diet. Fifty guinea pigs were administered either control or lithogenic diet. The spontaneous motility of the gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi were recorded on isolated gallbladder tissues; thereafter, the effect of NEC on motility was tested and compared with carbachol (CCh), potassium chloride (KCl), noradrenaline (NA), and A71623. Compared to controls, the lithogenic diet induced an irregular and disordered motor pattern in both the gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi. NEC increased gallbladder and decreased sphincter of Oddi spontaneous motility independently of cholinergic, adrenergic, and CCK-1 receptor-mediated pathways both in controls and in lithogenic diet-fed animals, although the effect was lower in the latter group. The effect was reversible and mediated by calcium channels. The natural extract of chestnut increasing gallbladder contraction and inducing the relaxation of the sphincter of Oddi can be of benefit in pathological conditions associated with increased transit time at risk of gallstones.
authors.affiliation: 1 Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Università di Bologna , Bologna, Italy .
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Micucci
authors.forename: Pierfranco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ioan
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aldini
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cevenini
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alvisi
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruffilli
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiarini
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Budriesi
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D029962:Fagaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying / Q000187:drug effects*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009803:Sphincter of Oddi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: calcium channels; cholecystokinin; cholesterol gallstones; cholinergic, adrenergic receptors; gall-bladder emptying; natural substances; non-competitive mechanism