Carthami flos regulates gastrointestinal motility functions

Background Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in the general population. This investigation studied the effects of Carthami flos (CF), a natural product, on GI motility. Methods We checked the intestinal transit rates (ITRs) or gastric emptying in normal and in GI-motility-dysfunction (GMD) mice in vivo. The GMD mice were made by acetic acid or streptozotocin. Results Both ITRs and gastric emptying were increased by CF (0.0025-0.25 g/kg) dose dependently. Also, in the GMD mice models, acetic-acid-induced peritoneal irritation, and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, the ITRs were decreased compared to normal mice, and these decreases were inhibited by CF. Conclusion These results suggest that CF is one of the good candidates for the development of a prokinetic agent that may regulate GI-motility functions.