Effects of essential oil from Croton tiglium L. on intestinal transit in mice

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 117; no. 1; pp. 102 - 107
• Main Authors: Wang, Xin, Zhang, FaMing, Liu, ZhenXiong, Feng, HanZhong, Yu, Zhi Bin, Lu, YuanYuan, Zhai, HuiHong, Bai, FeiHu, Shi, YongQuan, Lan, Mei, Jin, JianPing, Fan, DaiMing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 17.04.2008; Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier; Elsevier
• Subjects: animal models; Animals; Atropine - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; colon; Croton - chemistry; Croton tiglium; Croton tiglium L; dosage; dose response; essential oils; Euphorbiaceae; feces; Female; Gastrointestinal motility; gastrointestinal transit; Gastrointestinal Transit - drug effects; General pharmacology; In Vitro Techniques; Inflammation; intestines; Male; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Muscarinic receptor; muscle contraction; Muscle Contraction - drug effects; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; purgative properties; smooth muscle; tissue culture; Traditional medicine; Croton tiglium L; Euphorbiaceae; Traditional medicine; Gastrointestinal motility; Muscarinic receptor; Inflammation; Motility; Gastrointestinal; Medicinal plant; Cholinergic receptor; Folk medicine; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Essential oil; Stomach; Digestive system; Pharmacognosy; Rodentia; Gut; Digestion; Digestive transit; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Plant origin; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.01.023

Croton tiglium ( Croton tiglium L., Euphorbiaceae) is widely used as a herb for treatment of gastrointestinal disturbances. Previous studies established its purgative and inflammational properties. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Croton tiglium oil (CO) on intestinal transit in mice. Gastrointestinal transit in mice and contractile characteristics of isolated intestinal strips from mice were evaluated. Intestinal inflammation was confirmed by histological examination. Low dose of CO increased the gastrointestinal transit of charcoal and barium meal as well as the production of fecal pellets in mice. In contrast, high dose exerted inhibitory effects. For normal colonic circular strips, both high and low dose of CO inhibited the contractile frequency. Low doses (0–20 μg/ml) of CO enhanced the phasic contractions, while high doses (>40 μg/ml) reduced them. Colonic longitudinal strips in CO-treated mice were less sensitive to electrical field stimulation than those in control mice. The contraction of colonic longitudinal, colonic and jejunal circular strips in CO-treated mice was more sensitive to atropine than that in control mice. CO might modulate gastrointestinal motility and induce intestinal inflammation related to immunological milieu and motor activity. Our findings may highlight the ethno-medical uses of Croton tiglium on intestinal disorders.