Agarwood induced laxative effects via acetylcholine receptors on loperamide-induced constipation in mice.

Abstract

Agarwood (Aquilaria sinensis, Aquilaria crasna) is well known as an incense in the oriental region such as Thailand, Taiwan, and Cambodia, and is used as a digestive in traditional medicine. We investigated the laxative effects and mechanism of agarwood leaves extracted with ethanol (EEA-1, Aquilaria sinensis; EEA-2, Aquilaria crasna). EEA-1, EEA-2, the main constituents of EEAs (mangiferin, and genkwanin-5-O-primeveroside), and senna increased the frequency and weight of stools in loperamide-induced constipation model mice. EEA-1 and EEA-2 did not induce diarrhea as a side effect, but senna induced severe diarrhea. EEA-1 and senna increased gastro-intestinal (GI) transit in the model mice. EEA-1, but not senna, also increased the intestinal tension of isolated jejunum and ileum in guinea pigs, and the tension increase was blocked by atropine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, but not by other inhibitors (granicetron, pyrilamine, or bradykinin-antagonist peptide). Furthermore, the increase in frequency and weight of stools induced by EEA-1 were blocked by pre-administration of atropine in the model mice. These findings indicate that EEAs exerted a laxative effect via acetylcholine receptors in the mouse constipation model.

• Authors: Mamoru Kakino, Hiroshi Izuta, Tetsuro Ito, Kazuhiro Tsuruma, Yoko Araki, Masamitsu Shimazawa, Masayoshi Oyama, Munekazu Iinuma, Hideaki Hara
• Journal: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry (Biosci Biotechnol Biochem) Vol. 74 Issue 8 Pg. 1550-5 ( 2010) ISSN: 1347-6947 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20699592 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cholinergic Antagonists
• Laxatives
• Plant Extracts
• Receptors, Cholinergic
• Ethanol
• Loperamide
• Atropine

Topics

• Animals
• Atropine (pharmacology)
• Cholinergic Antagonists (pharmacology)
• Constipation (chemically induced, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Diarrhea (chemically induced)
• Ethanol (chemistry)
• Female
• Gastrointestinal Transit (drug effects)
• Guinea Pigs
• Intestines (drug effects, physiopathology)
• Laxatives (adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Loperamide (pharmacology)
• Male
• Mice
• Plant Extracts (adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Plant Leaves (chemistry)
• Receptors, Cholinergic (metabolism)
• Thymelaeaceae (chemistry)