Abstract
Purpose: To study the effect of solvent fractions of the crude extract of liushenqu on gastrointestinal motility in guinea pigs, and the mechanism of action.
 Methods: The effects of solvent fractions of crude extract of liushenqu (LSQ) on receptors in guinea pig isolated small intestinal cells were determined by treatment with different receptor blockers, including diphenhydramine (0.067 mg/mL), atropine sulfate (0.064 mg/mL), propranolol hydrochloride (0.033mg/mL), phentolamine mesylate (0.04mg/mL) and ondansetron hydrochloride (0.048mg/mL), to investigate the possible pharmacological mechanism of action.
 Results: There was no significant change in the maximum amplitude of muscle tension before and after administration in the control group, petroleum ether fraction group, and dichlormethane fraction group, while muscle tension in the 95 % ethanol and n-butanol fractions significantly increased (p < 0.01). The mean changes in tension were significantly different from that of control group (p < 0.01), but ethyl acetate fraction showed significant intestinal muscle inhibition (p < 0.01). Addition of LSQ did not alleviate the inhibition caused by diphenhydramine, but it significantly reversed the inhibition caused by blockers of cholinergic muscarinic receptor, adrenergic alpha- and beta- receptors, and 5-HT receptor (p < 0.01).
 Conclusion: These results indicate that n-butanol fraction is the most effective bioactive fraction of LSQ, while ethyl acetate fraction has the opposite effect. In addition, its mechanism of action is related to increase in the amplitude of small intestine smooth muscle contraction and acceleration of small intestine peristalsis.
Highlights
Liushenqu (LSQ), known as Shenqu and Liuqu, is a traditional Chinese medicine for treating indigestion and its related disorders
The mechanism of action of LSQ in promoting digestion is still unclear, but many scholars believe that the digestive enzymes produced during the fermentation process are the medicinal basis of LSQ, and that they can be used as indicators of changes in the fermentation process [3,4,5]
Effect of different solvent extracts of LSQ on isolated intestinal muscles As seen from Table 1, the maximum and amplitude of muscle tension were significantly increased in the ethanol extract (EE, 5mg/mL) and n-butanol groups (n-BG, 5mg/mL), relative to control group (p < 0.01)
Summary
Liushenqu (LSQ), known as Shenqu and Liuqu, is a traditional Chinese medicine for treating indigestion and its related disorders. The main functions of LSQ are related to protection of the spleen and stomach and promotion of digestion, which make it especially suitable for. Since LSQ promotes digestion and stimulates appetite, it has a wide range of applications in clinical practice, such as treatment of indigestion, stomach pain or bloating, especially for children indigestion and constipation [2]. The aim of the present study was to identify the most biologically active fraction of LSQ, as well as its active phytochemical composition, and to determine the mechanism through which it promotes digestion by studying its effect on small intestinal smooth muscle receptors in guinea pigs. All experimental protocols were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Chengdu Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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