부산대학교 도서관

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Danshen, root of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM), has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of heart, abdomen, gurgling in the intestines, and relieving fullness. However, the effects of SM on intestine have rarely been done to date. Aim of the study: To investigate the contraction effect of SM on isolated rat ileum and its mechanisms involved. Materials and methods: The isometric contractions of ileum segments were investigated in organ baths for spontaneous activity and response to ethanolic extracts of SM. To determine the contraction mechanism caused by SM extracts, atropine (a muscarinic receptor antagonist), tetrodotoxin (TTX, a sodium channel blocker), nifedipine (a calcium channel blocker), Ca2+ free Krebs solution with EGTA, or trifluoperazine (TFP, a calmodulin blocker) was administered and its response to cumulative dosages of SM extracts were examined. The effect of SM extracts on Ca2+ signaling in the intestinal epithelial cell-6 (IEC-6) was examined using fura-2 as a Ca2+ indicator. Results: SM extracts caused dose-dependent tonic contraction on rat ileum in ex vivo organ bath studies. The contraction induced by SM extracts was not inhibited by atropine, TTX, nifedipine, or in Ca2+ free solution. However, the ileal contractions induced by SM extracts were significantly inhibited by TFP in a dose-dependent manner. In IEC-6 cells, the SM extracts induced extracellular Ca2+ entry and massive intracellular Ca2+ release in Ca2+-contained medium, and induced intracellular Ca2+ release in Ca2+-free medium. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that SM extracts cause ileal contraction through the Ca2+-calmodulin pathway.