Methods
In vivo, the antidiarrheal activity of ELH (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg; orally) in castor oil-induced Kun Ming mice was evaluated. In vitro, the effect of ELH (0.01-10 mg/mL) on the spontaneous and ACh (10μM)/K+ (60mM)-induced contraction of isolated rabbit jejunum smooth muscle was studied. The possible mechanism of spasmolytic effect of ELH (1, 3mg/mL) was explored by pretreatment of intestinal tract with CaCl2.
Results
ELH (500 and 1000mg/kg) exhibited antidiarrheal effect and it (0.01-10 mg/mL) inhibited the spontaneous and ACh/K+-induced contraction with an EC50 value of 1.27 (0.89-1.34), 0.76 (0.54-1.02) and 0.34 (0.27-0.53), it also shifted the concentration-response curves of CaCl2 to right with decreased in max, similar to verapamil. ELH has significant antidiarrheal and spasmolytic effect, this provides the pharmacological basis for use in gastrointestinal disorders.