Abstract
BackgroundXiao’er Qixingcha (EXQ) has been extensively applied to relieve dyspepsia and constipation in children for hundreds of years in China. However, the therapeutic mechanism underlying its efficacy remained to be defined. The present study aimed to clarify the possible laxative and immune-regulating effects of EXQ on two models of experimental constipation in mice, which mimicked the pediatric constipation caused by high-heat and high-protein diet (HHPD).MethodsThe two models of constipated mice were induced by HHPD or HHPD + atropine respectively. To investigate the laxative and immune-regulating activities of EXQ, animals were treated with three doses of EXQ (0.75, 1.5 and 3 g/kg) for 7 consecutive days. The fecal output parameters (number and weight), weight of intestinal content and, the thymus and spleen indexes were measured. The levels of sIgA, IL-10, TNF-α and LPS in colon and serum were determined by ELISA. Furthermore, the pathological changes of colon tissue were examined after routine H&E staining.ResultsBoth HHPD and HHPD + atropine treatments obviously inhibited the fecal output and reduced the colonic sIgA, prominently increased the levels of IL-10 and TNF-α in colonic tissue and elevated the contents of LPS in serum and colonic tissues. In contrast, oral administration of EXQ significantly improved the feces characters and dose-dependently decreased the intestinal changes in both models. In HHPD model test, EXQ efficaciously boosted the sIgA level in a dose-dependent manner, significantly elicited decreases in TNF-α and IL-10 levels, and evidently decreased the spleen and thymus indexes. In HHPD + atropine model test, EXQ treatment reversed the pathological changes by not only dramatically decreasing the spleen index and the levels of LPS and IL-10, but also markedly elevating the thymus index. Furthermore, microscopic observation revealed that EXQ treatment maintained the integrity of colonic mucosa, and protected the colonic tissues from inflammation in the both models.ConclusionsEXQ exhibited prominent laxative activity and effectively protected the colonic mucosal barrier in two models of constipated mice, of which the mechanism might be closely associated with its propulsive and immune-regulating properties. The current results not only validated the rationale for the clinical application of EXQ in pediatric constipation related symptoms, but also threw new light on the immune-inflammatory responses accompanied with chronic constipation pathology.
Highlights
Xiao’er Qixingcha (EXQ) has been extensively applied to relieve dyspepsia and constipation in children for hundreds of years in China
We examined the effects of EXQ on two models of constipated mice, namely ‘high-protein diet (HHPD) model’ and ‘HHPD + atropine model’, which mimicked the symptoms caused by HHPD alone and HHPD in combination with deficient gastrointestinal motility respectively, as observed in constipated children
EXQ ameliorated fecal output character and intestinal content in two models of constipated mice To investigate whether EXQ exhibited laxative effects on constipated mice, we firstly examined the effect of EXQ on the fecal output and weight of intestinal content (Fig. 1), which were direct indicators of constipation in animals
Summary
Xiao’er Qixingcha (EXQ) has been extensively applied to relieve dyspepsia and constipation in children for hundreds of years in China. Constipation may lead to a painful defecation, and children will conflict with defecation to avoid a repeated painful experience, which may aggravate constipation [3] It causes physical and mental suffering for children such as abdominal distension, vomiting, gut obstruction and perforation, and has adverse effects on their quality of life by increasing the risk of anxiety, irritability and decreasing appetite [4, 5]. As the life quality improved, parents tend to seek refined and high-nutrition diets for their children. Many valuable nutrients, such as fibers, are refined out of the foods during processing. Long-term high-heat and high-protein diet (HHPD) could further increase the gastrointestinal burden and cause disorder, even intractable constipation
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