Effect of curcuma extract on 5-HT biphasic activity (contraction and then relaxation) in mouse distal colon.

<p>Mouse distal colon smooth muscle has been exposed to 5-HT (50 µM) before (control) and after exposure to 0.1 mg/ml curcuma extract for 30 min.. Data are mean ± SEM values (<i>n</i> = 3-5). Error bars are not shown where they are covered by the point itself.</p

Spasmolitic effect of curcuma extract on K⁺ (80 mM) induced contraction on isolated ileum (dark blu) and on isolated distal colon (light blu).

<p>Dose-response curves of curcuma extract. Data are means ± SEM values (<i>n</i> = 3-5). Error bars are not shown where they are covered by the point itself.</p

Effect of curcuma on histamine-induced contraction in isolated mice ileum.

<p>(A) Cumulative concentration-response curves were obtained before and after exposure to curcuma extract for 30 minutes. Data are mean ± SEM values (<i>n</i> = 5-6). (B) Time course of curcuma extract effect on histamine-induced contraction in isolated mice ileum (100%). Cumulative concentration-response curves were obtained before and after exposure to Curcuma extract (0.025 mg/ml) for 5, 15, 30, and 45 minutes. Data are mean ± SEM values (<i>n</i> = 4-7). (C) Time course of effect of curcuma-extract (0.025 mg/ml) on histamine-induced contraction in isolated mice ileum. Cumulative concentration-response curves were obtained before and after exposure to curcuma extract (0.025 mg/ml) and following washing for 5, 30, and 60 minutes. Data are mean ± SEM values (<i>n</i> = 3-5). Error bars are not shown where they are covered by the point itself. </p

Basal contractile activity: effect of Curcuma extract 1 mg/ml.

<p>(A,B) baseline gastric smooth muscle phasic contractions before (A) and after curcuma extract addition (B). (C,D): races of baseline trachea smooth muscle phasic contractions before (C) and after curcuma administration (D ). (E,F): traces of baseline smooth muscle bladder phasic contractions before (E) and after curcuma administration (F). X axis (g) and Y axis (h). (G): spontaneous phasic contractions frequency in gastric fundus, trachea, bladder strips (mean ± SEM) (C): Spontaneous phasic contractions amplitude in gastric fundus, trachea, bladder strips (mean ± SEM). In all cases Curcuma vs controls <i>P</i> > 0.05.</p

<em>Curcuma longa</em> Extract Exerts a Myorelaxant Effect on the Ileum and Colon in a Mouse Experimental Colitis Model, Independent of the Anti-Inflammatory Effect

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Curcuma has long been used as an anti-inflammatory agent in inflammatory bowel disease. Since gastrointestinal motility is impaired in inflammatory states, the aim of this work was to evaluate if <em>Curcuma Longa</em> had any effect on intestinal motility.</p> <h3>Methods</h3><p>The biological activity of Curcuma extract was evaluated against Carbachol induced contraction in isolated mice intestine. Acute and chronic colitis were induced in Balb/c mice by Dextran Sulphate Sodium administration (5% and 2.5% respectively) and either Curcuma extract (200 mg/kg/day) or placebo was thereafter administered for 7 and 21 days respectively. Spontaneous contractions and the response to Carbachol and Atropine of ileum and colon were studied after colitis induction and Curcuma administration.</p> <h3>Results</h3><p>Curcuma extract reduced the spontaneous contractions in the ileum and colon; the maximal response to Carbachol was inhibited in a non-competitive and reversible manner. Similar results were obtained in ileum and colon from Curcuma fed mice. DSS administration decreased the motility, mainly in the colon and Curcuma almost restored both the spontaneous contractions and the response to Carbachol after 14 days assumption, compared to standard diet, but a prolonged assumption of Curcuma decreased the spontaneous and Carbachol-induced contractions.</p> <h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Curcuma extract has a direct and indirect myorelaxant effect on mouse ileum and colon, independent of the anti-inflammatory effect. The indirect effect is reversible and non-competitive with the cholinergic agent. These results suggest the use of curcuma extract as a spasmolytic agent.</p> </div

Gallbladder Spontaneous and Induced motility.

<p>Amplitude (A) and Frequency (B) of spontaneous phasic contractions and (C) response to CCh and Atropine in mice gallbladder. Data are mean ± SEM values (<i>n</i> = 3–5) (*<i>P</i>>.01) (**<i>P</i>>.05).</p

Ileum Spontaneous and Induced motility.

<p>Amplitude (A) and Frequency (B) of spontaneous phasic contractions and (C) response to CCh and Atropine in mice ileum. Data are mean ± SEM values (<i>n</i> = 3–5) (*<i>P</i>>.01) (**<i>P</i>>.05).</p

Assessment of acute colitis and evaluation of the response to Ph. ¹⁸F-FDG micro PET.

<p>A. Quantification of ¹⁸F-FDG uptake (SUV) in the distal colon of Balb/c mice fed with CD and Ph. Analysis were repeated on the same mice at day 14^th, after CD and Ph (respectively n = 5; n = 5, **<i>P</i> = .0014), at day 24^th, the last of the ten days of DSS colitis induction (CD n = 5; Ph n = 5, ns), at day 38^th, fourteen days after the end of the DSS administration (CD n = 4; Ph n = 5, * <i>P</i><.05). B. Representative PET image showing different ¹⁸F-FDG accumulation in the distal colon (yellow arrows) of Balb/c mice fed with CD (left image) and Ph (right image) at the end of induction. On the left of each images the SUV chromatic scale, from 0.00 to 6.19, is reported.</p

Effect of curcuma extract on carbachol-induced contraction in isolated mouse ileum (A) and distal colon (B).

<p><b>a)</b> Cumulative concentration-response curves were obtained before and after exposure to curcuma extract for 30 min. Each point is the mean ± SEM (<i>n</i>  = 3–5). <b>b)</b> Time course of curcuma extract effect on Carbachol-induced contraction in isolated mouse ileum (<b>A</b>) or distal colon (<b>B</b>) (100%). Cumulative concentration-response curves were obtained before and after exposure to curcuma extract (0.05 mg/mL) for 5, 30 and 45 min. Each point is the mean ± SEM (<i>n</i>  = 3–5). <b>c)</b> Time course of curcuma extract (0.05 mg/mL) on carbachol-induced contraction in isolated mouse ileum (<b>A</b>) and distal colon (<b>B</b>). Cumulative concentration-response curves were obtained before and after exposure to curcuma extract (0.05 mg/mL) and following 5, 30 and 60 min washing. Data are the mean ± SEM (<i>n</i>  = 3–5). Where error bars are not shown, these are covered with the point itself.</p

Overview of experimental design.

<p>Since at time points indicated by arrows 3–5 animals of each group were sacrificed, a total of 10 mice in the Ph group and 6 mice in the CD group (4 died) for each group completed the study. Mice receiving Ph for 14 days (day 0–14) were used to examine the Prevention of DSS induced colitis by Ph and compared with mice consuming CD. Mice receiving DSS from day 14 to day 24 and Ph were used to examine the response to Ph during the acute phase. Mice receiving Ph over 10 days after DSS was stopped and substituted for with water were used to evaluate the remission induced by Ph.</p