ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of four interior-warming drugs( galangal,cinnamon,evodia rutaecarpa,and dried ginger)on the tension of ileum smooth muscle and Ca2+-ATPase on the cell membrane in rabbits. Methods The effects of galangal,cinnamon,evodia rutaecarpa,and dried ginger were examined on normal ileum smooth muscle,in vitro intestinal muscle contraction caused by acetylcholine(ACh),barium chloride(BaCl2 )and histamine(His), and ACh-induced calcium release by using BL-420E+ biological signal collection and processing system.The average tension was measured within 1 min before delivery and within 3 minutes after the treatment,and the inhibition rate was calculated according to the average tension value.The effects of sera containing galangal,cinnamon,evodia rutaecarpa,and dried ginger on Ca2+-ATPase activity on the cell membrane of the intestinal smooth muscle were examined by phosphorus method. Results Galangal,cinnamon,evodia rutaecarpa,and dried ginger at high concentrations could restrain in vitro intestinal contraction in normal circumstances(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Significant inhibitory effects on intestinal contraction caused by ACh,His and BaCl2 were found in low,medium and high concentration groups(P<0.01).There was a dose-effectiveness relationship between the inhibition rate and final drug concentrations.The ACh-induced intracellular and extracellular calcium dependent contraction were significantly inhibited by the four interior-warming drugs( P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01). The Ca2+-ATPase activities were( 0. 384 ± 0.070),(0.302±0.016),(0.307±0.016),(0.296±0.016),(0.313±0.003)U·mg-1 ,respectively,in intestinal smooth muscle in normal control group and high concentration groups of galangal,cinnamon,evodia rutaecarpa,and dried ginger(P<0.01). Conclusion Interior-warming drugs may relax intestinal smooth muscle by reducing the intracellular calcium release and the extracellular calcium inflow via receptor-controlled calcium channels,and inhibiting the Ca2+-ATPase activity in smooth muscle.