title: Anethole restores delayed gastric emptying and impaired gastric accommodation in rodents.
abstract: Functional dyspepsia (FD), a functional gastrointestinal disorder, is characterized by persistent or recurrent postprandial upper abdominal discomfort and epigastric pain. The high prevalence of FD and associated healthcare costs suggests that treatment of this condition by methods other than prescribed medicines, such as natural products, could be beneficial. Delayed gastric emptying and impaired gastric accommodation play important roles in the development of FD. Anethole (1-methoxy-4-((E)-propenyl)-benzene), a major component of essential fennel oil, has been used as a flavoring, in alcoholic beverage production and in pharmaceutical formulations for many years. In this study, we examined the effects of anethole on delayed gastric emptying and impaired gastric accommodation in rodents. Oral administration of anethole improved clonidine-induced delayed gastric emptying but did not affect normal gastric emptying in mice. Fennel oil and Anchu-san (a Japanese herbal medicine containing anethole) also restored delayed gastric emptying. Furthermore, oral administration of anethole stimulated gastric accommodation in rats. These results suggest that anethole could be beneficial for the treatment of FD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Drug Discovery and Development, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan. Electronic address: asano-ti@pha.keio.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Teita
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.affiliation: Division of Drug Discovery and Development, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aida
authors.affiliation: Division of Drug Discovery and Development, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan.
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suemasu
authors.affiliation: LTT Bio-Pharma Co., Ltd., Shiodome Building 3F, 1-2-20 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0022, Japan.
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizushima
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; C006578:anethole
keywords: Anethole; Functional dyspepsia; Gastric accommodation; Gastric emptying