LAXATIVE AND SPASMOGENIC ACTIVITIES OF A HERBAL FORMULA

초록

The spasmogenic activities and acute toxicity study of Yumijangquebo (YMJQB), a Korean herbal laxative formulation, were subjected to pharmacological evaluation. When tested in the contractile extent of guinea pig ileum, YMJQB displayed a spasmogenic effects in a concentration up to 0.05mg/ml and then decreased contractility of ileum; exhibiting the similar pattern with acetylcholine, a physiological regulator for peristaltic movement of the gut. These spasmogenic activities of YMJQB were mediated through acetylcholine-like mechanism because they were blocked completely by atropine. YMJQB increased intestinal movement in ICR mice in a linear dose-dependent manner ranging from 10 to 50 mg/kg. In an acute toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats, the median lethal dose (LD50) of YMJQB was greater than 2000 mg/kg, and no pathological changes were noticed in macroscopic examination by necropsy of rats treated with YMJQB. Thus, YMJQB may be safely used as a herbal laxative agent.