Effect of Yukgunjatang Granule on Gastric Emptying in Rats

육군자탕(六君子湯)이 흰쥐의 위(胃) 배출능(排出能)에 미치는 영향

Backgrounds & Objectives : Yukgunjatanggranule (YGJT) ha been used for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, regarded as one of the gastric dysmotility diseases, but its mechanisms of cation are not yet well known, We investigated the effects of YGJT on gastric emptying and its mechanisms of action in rats. Methods : Gastric emptying was measured by glass beads (1mm in diameter) expelled from the stomach for 1 hour and 2 hours after administration ofnormal saline (NS) or YGJT 41.6mg/kg or 124.8mg/kg in rats. By the same method, gastric emptying was measured only for 2 hours after administration of NS of YGJT 124.8mg/kg in rats treated with atropine sulfate (1mg/kg, s.c), quinpirole HCl(0.3mg/kg, i.p.), NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, 75mg/kg, s.c.) or cisplatin (10mg/kg, i.p.) to delay gastric emptying. Results : YGJT 124.8mg/kg improved gastric emptying more than NS or YGJT 41.6mg/kg (p=0.046). Under delayed gastric emptying, YGJT 124.8mg/kg improved gastric emptying in the group treated with cisplatin ($3.1{\pm}1.3$ vs. $6.6{\pm}3.1$, p=0.015), quinpirole HCl ($4.7{\pm}2.8$ vs. $5.5{\pm}5.6$, p=0.874) and NAME ($2.2{\pm}1.4$ vs. $4.7{\pm}6.0$, p=0.414), but aggravated it with atropine sulfate ($1.8{\pm}0.9$vs. $1.7{\pm}1.0$, p=0.957). Conclusions : YGJT improves gastric emptying through the cholinergic pathwas, and shows some effect against the toxicity of cisplatin. Therefore, we expect that it would be effective in relieving gastrointestinal symptoms in functional dyspepsia patients and cisplatin-treated patients.