Effect of compound Chinese herb yishenqing on defecated function of constipation mice

Aim: To investigate the effects of compound Chinese herb yishenqing on movement of small intestinal in normal mice and defecated function in constipation mice. Methods: The experiments were completed in Neuropharmacological Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Health Science Center of Peking University from April to May 2004. 1 Twenty normal ICR of half gender and clean grade were selected in this study. 2 Effect of yishenqing on intestinal movement ratio of carbon powder: Forty mice were randomly divided into control group (perfused with 100 g/L arabic gum + 50 g/L carbon powder) and yishenqing groups with high, middle and low doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg, especially (0.1 mL/10 g, consisted of chitosan, ant powder and black fungus with 4:3:3 ratio). The complex was black powder with hydrating and dilatation, and was not dissolved in water and organic solvent. Various doses of complex, such as 50, 100 and 200 g/L, were composed of raw material, 100 g/L arabic gum and 50 g/L carbon powder). Each group was 10 mice. The mice were sacrificed 20 minutes after treatment. The intestine was selected from pyloric orifice to ileocecal junction, the length of the intestine and the carbon powder movement was determined. The carbon powder movement ratio was calculated as: the length of carbon powder movement (cm)/the length of intestine (cm) × 100%. 3 Effects of yishenqing on defecated function in constipation mice: Forty mice were randomly divided into four groups, yishenqing groups with high, middle and low doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/ kg and model groups with ten in each group. The forty mice were administered with constipating medicine (difen nuozhi, 10 mg/kg) to form the constipation model. After treatment with difen nuozhi for 1 hour, various doses of yishenqing and vehicle (model group) were administered, respectively. The first time of defecation, the number of defecation and the water contents of feces were determined. The water contents of feces (%) were. calculated as [(the quality of humid feces - the quality of dry feces)/ the quality of humid feces × 100%]. 4 Measurement data were compared with t-test. Results: Eighty mice were used to test with ten mice each group. 1 The intestinal movement ratio of carbon powder: The effects of high and nnddle doses of yishenqing were better than those of control group [(78±8)%, (71±11)%, (60±9)%, P < 0.01, P < 0.05]. The effects of middle doses of yishenqing were the best among all of the groups. The effects of low doses of yishenqing were similar to those of control group [(58±10)%, P > 0.05]. 2 The first time of defecation: The effects of high, middle and low doses of yishenqing were better than those of model group (P < 0.01). 3 The water contents of feces: The effects of high, middle and low doses of yishenqing were better than those of model group (P < 0.05-0.01). 4 The number of defecation: The effects of middle and low doses of yishenqing were better than those of model group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Yishenqing enhances the intestinal movement, defecation, the number of defecation and the water contents of feces, and ameliorates constipation of mice.