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International Journal of Pharmacology

Year: 2014 | Volume: 10 | Issue: 5 | Page No.: 248-257
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Authors

Min Woo Hwang

Jae Hwa Lee

Byung Joo Kim

Keywords

Research Article

Carthami Flos Depolarizes the Interstitial Cells of Cajal and Increases the Motility in Gastrointestinal Tract

Min Woo Hwang, Jae Hwa Lee and Byung Joo Kim
Carthami Flos (CF) (safflower, Carthamus tinctorius Linne) belongs to the Compositae family and has been used in Asia as a natural medicine for treating the various diseases. However, the regulation of CF in gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of CF on the pacemaker activity of the Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICCs) in murine small intestine and GI motility. Enzymatic digestion was used to dissociate ICCs from mouse small intestines. The whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials from cultured ICCs clusters. In vivo effects of CF on GI motility were investigated by measuring the Intestinal Transit Rate (ITR) of Evans blue in normal and abnormal mice models. The CF depolarized resting membrane potentials in a concentration dependent manner but this action was blocked by Y25130 (a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist) and RS39604 (a 5-HT4 receptor antagonist). However, SB269970 (a 5-HT7 receptor antagonist) did not. Pretreatment with Ca2+ free solution or thapsigargin (Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor in endoplasmic reticulum) abolished the generation of pacemaker potentials and suppressed CF-induced activity. In vivo, CF (0.01-1 g kg-1, p.o.) not only significantly increased the ITR in normal mice but also ameliorated acetic acid-induced or STZ-induced diabetic GI motility retardation in a dose-dependent manner. So, CF regulates the pacemaker potentials in a dose dependent manner via external and internal Ca2+ regulations through 5-HT3 or 5-HT4 receptors. Also CF increases the ITRs in normal and acetic acid-induced or STZ-induced diabetic GI motility dysfunctions mice models. Therefore, CF might be a novel candidate for development as a prokinetic agent that may prevent or alleviate GI motility dysfunctions.
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