Effect of Pinellia ternata tuber on the efferent activity of the gastric vagus nerve in the rat.

Effect of intraduodenal infusion with the hot aqueous extract of Pinellia ternata tuber on the efferent discharges in the gastric branch of the vagus nerve was observed in the anesthetized rat. The infusion of the extract in doses of 2-15O mg per animal (c.a. 300 g, b.wt.) resulted in a dose-related increase in efferent activity of the vagal gastric nerve. The enhancement of the nerve activity following administration of 150 mg of this substance lasted longer than 90 min. It was observed that the suppressive effect on vagal gastric activity due to apomorphine and copper sulfate was antagonized by prior administration of the extract. From these observations it is suggested that Pinellia tuber acts as a facilitatory agent on gastric function.