Gastrointestinal motility consists of phasic slow-wave contractions and the migrating motor complex (MMC).
Eupatilin (Stillen®) has been widely used to treat
gastritis and
peptic ulcers, and various
cytokines and
neuropeptides are thought to be involved, which can affect gastrointestinal motility. We performed a study to identify the effects of
eupatilin on lower gastrointestinal motility with electromechanical recordings of smooth muscles in the human ileum and colon. Ileum and colon samples were obtained from patients undergoing bowel resection. The tissues were immediately stored in oxygenated Krebs-Ringer's
bicarbonate solution, and conventional
microelectrode recordings from muscle cells and tension recordings from muscle strips and ileal or colonic segments were performed.
Eupatilin was perfused into the tissue chamber, and changes in membrane potentials and contractions were measured. Hyperpolarization of resting membrane potential (RMP) was observed after administration of
eupatilin. The amplitude, AUC, and frequency of tension recordings from circular and longitudinal smooth muscle strips and bowel segments of the ileum and colon were significantly decreased after admission of
eupatilin.
Eupatilin elicited dose-dependent decreases during segmental tension recordings. In conclusion,
eupatilin (Stillen®) showed inhibitory effects on the human ileum and colon. We propose that this
drug may be useful for treating diseases that increase bowel motility, but further studies are necessary.