Savino F, Capasso R, Palumeri E, Tarasco V, Locatelli E, Capasso F
Dipartimento di Farmacologia Sperimentale, Università Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
Minerva Pediatr. 2008 Jun;60(3):285-90.
Phytotherapic agents, such as herbal formulations containing Matricariae recutita flowers (chamomile) extract, Foeniculum vulgare fruit (fennel) extract and Melissa officinalis aerial parts (lemon balm) extract have beneficial effects on gastrointestinal tract in colicky infants. However, the mechanism is largely unexplored and, particularly, it is not clear if it affects intestinal motility. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of different herbal formulations containing Matricariae recutita extract, Foeniculum vulgare extract and Melissa officinalis extract on upper gastrointestinal transit in mice in vivo.
Gastrointestinal transit was measured in male ICR mice and in croton oil-treated mice after the oral administration of herbal formulations containing chamomile, fennel and lemon balm (ColiMil) and chamomile and lemon balm (ColiMil experimental).
The herbal formulations tested (0.4-0.8 mL/mouse) dose-dependently and significantly inhibited gastrointestinal transit both in control and in croton oil-treated mice. Chamomile extract and lemon balm extract reduced significantly intestinal motility, but not fennel. At similar concentration ColiMil evoked a more consistent response than ColiMil experimental.
Our findings directly demonstrate in vivo the effect of a combination of herbal formulations on intestinal motility. The observed inhibitory effect might be studied with clinical studies to test the efficacy of these compounds in the treatment of colicky infants.
植物治疗剂，如含有母菊花（洋甘菊）提取物、小茴香果实（茴香）提取物和蜜蜂花地上部分（柠檬香蜂草）提取物的草药配方，对患腹绞痛的婴儿胃肠道有有益作用。然而，其作用机制在很大程度上尚未被探索，特别是尚不清楚它是否会影响肠道蠕动。本实验研究的目的是评估含有母菊花提取物、小茴香提取物和蜜蜂花提取物的不同草药配方对小鼠体内上消化道转运的影响。
在雄性ICR小鼠和巴豆油处理的小鼠口服含有洋甘菊、茴香和柠檬香蜂草的草药配方（ColiMil）以及洋甘菊和柠檬香蜂草的草药配方（ColiMil实验配方）后，测量胃肠道转运情况。
所测试的草药配方（0.4 - 0.8毫升/只小鼠）在对照组和巴豆油处理的小鼠中均呈剂量依赖性地显著抑制胃肠道转运。洋甘菊提取物和柠檬香蜂草提取物显著降低肠道蠕动，但茴香提取物无此作用。在相似浓度下，ColiMil比ColiMil实验配方引起的反应更一致。
我们的研究结果直接在体内证明了草药配方组合对肠道蠕动的影响。观察到的抑制作用可通过临床研究进一步探究，以测试这些化合物在治疗腹绞痛婴儿方面的疗效。
