Mechanism of gastric antisecretory activity of a new fraction of licorice root (FM100).

In our previous papers (1, 2), we reported that a new fraction of licorice root (FM 100) showed a protective effect on ulceration in the pylorus ligated rats and gastric antisecretory activities in rats and dogs in spite of being devoid of anticholinerigc properties. FM 100 decreased non-stimulated gastric secretion volumes and acid outputs in the pylorus ligated rats and gastric acid secretion induced by instillation of peptone into the antrum separated from the fundus in acute fistula rats. Effects of histamine and methacholine on gastric secretion were partially antagonized by FM 100. On the contrary, F.100 did not exert the inhibitory action on secretion induced by crude gastrin. Then, we propounded the hypothesis that the mechanism of gastric antisecretory activity of FM 100 is probably due to inhibitory action of the release of gastrin from the antral mucosa. The aim of the present investigation was to study the mechanism of gastric antisecretory activity of F000, especially concerning the mechanism of the release of gastrin from the antral mucosa of the rat.