Borrelli Francesca, Capasso Raffaele, Pinto Aldo, Izzo Angelo A
Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Life Sci. 2004 Apr 23;74(23):2889-96. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2003.10.023.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale rhizome) is a widespread herbal medicine mainly used for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, including dyspepsia, nausea and diarrhoea. In the present study we evaluated the effect of this herbal remedy on the contractions induced by electrical stimulation (EFS) or acetylcholine in the isolated rat ileum. Ginger (0.01-1000 microg/ml) inhibited both EFS- and acetylcholine-evoked contractions, being more potent in inhibiting the contractions induced by EFS. The depressant effect of ginger on EFS-induced contractions was reduced by the vanilloid receptor antagonist capsazepine (10(-5) M), but unaffected by the alpha(2)-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine (10(-7) M), the CB(1) receptor antagonist SR141716A (10(-6) M), the opioid antagonist naloxone (10(-6) M) or by the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME (3 x 10(-4) M). Zingerone (up to 3 x 10(-4) M), one of the active ingredients of ginger, did not possess inhibitory effects. It is concluded that ginger possesses both prejunctional and postjunctional inhibitory effects on ileal contractility; the prejunctional inhibitory effect of ginger on enteric excitatory transmission could involve a capsazepine-sensible site (possibly vanilloid receptors).
生姜（姜科植物姜的根茎）是一种广泛应用的草药，主要用于治疗胃肠道疾病，包括消化不良、恶心和腹泻。在本研究中，我们评估了这种草药对离体大鼠回肠电刺激（EFS）或乙酰胆碱诱导的收缩的影响。生姜（0.01 - 1000微克/毫升）抑制了EFS和乙酰胆碱诱发的收缩，对抑制EFS诱导的收缩更有效。生姜对EFS诱导收缩的抑制作用被香草酸受体拮抗剂辣椒素（10⁻⁵ M）减弱，但不受α₂肾上腺素能拮抗剂育亨宾（10⁻⁷ M）、CB₁受体拮抗剂SR141716A（10⁻⁶ M）、阿片受体拮抗剂纳洛酮（10⁻⁶ M）或一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L - NAME（3×10⁻⁴ M）的影响。生姜的活性成分之一姜酮（高达3×10⁻⁴ M）不具有抑制作用。结论是生姜对回肠收缩性具有节前和节后抑制作用；生姜对肠兴奋性传递的节前抑制作用可能涉及一个对辣椒素敏感的位点（可能是香草酸受体）。
