ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the preliminary pharmacological screening of Cassia nomame. Methods: The effect of aqueous extract from C. nomame on gastrointestinal motor function was investigated by assessing the intestinal transit rate (ITR) of charcoal modeled into gastrointestinal motility dysfunction (GMD) by the administration of dopamine, atropine, or noradrenaline to the rats, respectively. Diuresis was studied in vivo by estimating the urine output. The anti-inflammatory activity was expressed as the percentage of swelling reduction by comparison on the mean thickness of ear swelling in mice. Results: The ITR in these GMD animals was significantly retarded compared to that in normal animals. The retardation, however, was significantly inhibited by the ig administration of C. nomame (2 g/kg) for all GMD animals. The results suggested that C. nomame had the potential for development into a prokinetic agent that could prevent or alleviate GMD in patients. C. nomame increased urine output and suppressed significantly ear swelling induced by dirnethyl benzene in mice. Conclusion: C. nomame could increase the gastrointestinal contractile activity of rats and has the effects of diuresis and anti-inflammation. © 2013 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.