The traditional medicine bojungikki-tang increases intestinal motility

Background: Bojungikki-tang (BJIT) is a traditional formula used to treat Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. Objectives: We investigated the GI motility functions in vivo and the pacemaker potential in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in vitro by BJIT. Materials and Methods: Intestinal transit rate (ITR) and serum levels of GI hormones were investigated in mice. ICC-induced pacemaker potential was evaluated using the electrophysiological method. Results: ITR values and the level of motilin significantly increased after treatment with BJIT. The BJIT-induced ITR increase was related to the increase in the expression of a c-kit. BJIT induced the pacemaker potential depolarizations and the frequency decrease of ICCs. Pretreatment with methoctramine resulted in the inhibition of BJIT-induced depolarization of the pacemaker potential. However, BJIT-induced effects were retained in the presence of 1,1-dimethyl-4-diphenylacetoxypiperidinium iodide. Furthermore, thapsigargin pretreatment resulted in the inhibition of BJIT-induced effects. Moreover, BJIT blocked both transient receptor potential melastatin 7 and calcium-activated chloride (transmembrane protein 16A) channels. Conclusion: These results indicate that BJIT can be considered a good medicine for controlling GI motility.