Effects of Hwangryunhaedok-tang on gastrointestinal motility function in mice

AIM: To investigate the effects of Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHT) on gastrointestinal (GI) motility in mice. METHODS: The effects of a boiling water extract of HHT (HHTE) on GI motility were investigated by calculating percent intestinal transit rates (ITR%) and gastric emptying (GE) values using Evans Blue and phenol red, respectively, in normal mice and in mice with experimentally induced GI motility dysfunction (GMD). In addition, the effects of the four components of HHT, that is, Gardeniae Fructus (GF), Scutellariae Radix (SR), Coptidis Rhizoma (CR), and Phellodendri Cortex (PC), on GI motility were also investigated. RESULTS: In normal ICR mice, ITR% and GE values were significantly and dose-dependently increased by the intragastric administration of HHTE (0.1-1 g/kg). The ITR% values of GMD mice were significantly lower than those of normal mice, and these reductions were significantly and dose-dependently inhibited by HHTE (0.1-1 g/kg). Additionally, GF, CR, and PC dose-dependently increased ITR% and GE values in normal and GMD mice. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HHT is a novel candidate for the development of a gastroprokinetic agent for the GI tract.