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Effect of ethanol extracts of three Chinese medicinal plants with anti-diarrheal properties on ion transport of the rat intestinal epithelia

Authors Tsai, JC; Tsai, S; Chang, WC

Journal JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES , JAN 2004,1:94

DOI 10.1254/jphs.94.60 PubMed 14745119

Abstract Effects of ethanol extracts of three Chinese medicinal plants, namely, Qinpi (Fraxini cortex), Kushen (Sophora flavescens, AITON), and Huanglian (Coptis teeta, WALLICH), on ion transport of the rat intestinal epithelia were determined in this study. Rat intestinal epithelia mounted in an Ussing chamber attached to a voltage/current clamp were used for measuring changes in the short circuit current across the epithelia. Activation of the intestinal epithelia by serosal administration of 5 muM forskolin resulted in an increase in basal short circuit current. The ethanol extracts of each of the three plants partially reduced the current stimulated by forskolin. In the following experiments, ouabain and bumetanide were added prior to adding the ethanol extract of these plants for revealing their effect on Na+ and C1- movement. The results suggest that the ethanol extract of the Qinpi would affect C-1- transport. On the contrary, the ethanol extract of Kushen would affect Na+ transport rather than C-1- movement. This study provides evidences that reveal the pharmacological mechanism of the Chinese plants with anti-diarrheal properties.

Species covered 苦参 Sophora flavescens 云南黄连 Coptis teeta