BackgroundAgarwood (Aquilaria sinensis), well known as incense in Southeast Asia, has been used as a digestive in traditional medicine. We investigated the laxative effects of an ethanol extract of agarwood leaves (EEA) in a rat model of low-fiber diet-induced constipation.MethodsA set of rats was bred on a normal diet while another set was placed on a low-fiber diet to induce constipation. The laxative effect of agarwood was then investigated on both sets of rats.ResultsPretreatment of normal rats with single dose of EEA (600 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly increased frequency and weight of stools. Also, treatments with EEA (300 and 600 mg/kg, p.o.) for 14 days caused a significant increase in stool frequency and weight. Feeding of the animals with a low-fiber diet resulted in a decrease in stool weight, frequency, and water content and also delayed carmine egestion. A single treatment with EEA (600 mg/kg) or senna (150 and 300 mg/kg) significantly increased stool frequency, weight, and water content and also accelerated carmine egestion in the model rats. Once daily administrations of EEA (150 mg/kg), for 14 days, caused a significant increase in water content of stools. The higher doses of EEA (300 and 600 mg/kg) significantly increased frequency, weight, and water content of the stools while accelerating carmine egestion in the constipated rats. Senna (150 and 300 mg/kg) produced similar effect as the higher doses of EEA but, in addition, induced severe diarrhea.ConclusionThese findings indicate that EEA has a laxative effect, without causing diarrhea, in a rat model of low-fiber diet-induced constipation. These findings suggest that EEA may be highly effective on constipation as a complementary medicine in humans suffering from life style-induced constipation.

BackgroundKorean red ginseng (KRG) is a ginseng that has been cultivated and aged for 4-6 years or more, and goes through an extensive cleaning, steaming and drying process. KRG contains more than 30 kinds of saponin components and has been reported as having various biological properties, such as anti-fatigue action, immune restoration, and neurovegetative effect. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a KRG-containing drug (KRGCD) on gastric ulcer models in mice.MethodsStomach ulcers were induced by oral ingestion of hydrochloride (HCl)/ethanol or indomethacin. Treatment with KRGCD (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) occurred 1 hr before the ulcer induction. Effect of KRGCD on anti-oxidant activity and gastric mucosal blood flow with a laser Doppler flowmeter in mice stomach tissue was evaluated.ResultsKRGCD (100 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly decreased ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer compared with the vehicle-treated (control) group. KRGCD (100 and 300 mg/kg) also decreased the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and increased gastric mucosal blood flow compared with the control group.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the gastroprotective effects of KRGCD on mice ulcer models can be attributed to its ameliorating effect on oxidative damage and improving effect of gastric mucosal blood flow.

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These findings indicate that the murine model in which both the PPA and the ECA are ligated may be useful to clarify the pathologic mechanisms of retinal ischemic diseases and to evaluate neuroprotective drugs that target retinal ischemic injury.

Summary Mangiferin ( 3 ) and genkwanin 5-O -␤ -primeveroside ( 5 ) are the two major bioactive polyphenols with laxative property present in the extracts of agarwood ( Aquilaria sinensis ) leaves (AL). Here we developed an HPLC method to determine these bioactive components and four other major polyphenols in AL extracts and evaluated the pharmacological equivalence of organic and water extracts. Using mobile phase gradient conditions combined with UV detection at 330 nm, all six compounds were separated and we determined the relative extraction ratios of the six compounds present in A. sinensis extracts that were prepared under different conditions and compared the contents of the two laxative polyphenols present in the 60% ethanol extracts of A. sinensis and A. crassna . The polyphenols present in water extracts of 13 commercially cultivated A. crassna plants have also been analyzed. The laxative properties of 60% ethanol and four water extracts of A. crassna were evaluated by the frequency and weight of stools in loperamide-induced constipation model mice. The pharmacological equivalence of 60% ethanol extract and hot water (95˚C) extract was identified in mice. Key Words agarwood leaves, laxative polyphenols, HPLC, mangiferin, genkwanin 5-O -␤ -primeverosideHerbal supplements play an important role in public health. The polyphenols present in herbal supplements prevent metabolic syndrome and possess remarkable therapeutic properties. To ensure the stability and efficiency of these polyphenols in clinical use, the quality control system of herbal supplements should measure and regulate the phytoequivalence and pharmacological effects of these compounds. Generally, two strategies are employed for the quality control of herbal supplements: ( 1 ) to assess the batch-to-batch consistency of the chemical constituents of the herbal supplement based on chromatographic fingerprints and ( 2 ) to measure a few key pharmacological compounds to assess the quality of the supplement. The first strategy is a blind analysis because the quantitative chemical information about the major pharmacological constituents is lacking; therefore, the pharmacological effects of the herbal supplement cannot be easily assessed. The other strategy focuses only on a few index compounds and does not provide a comprehensive insight into the quality of the constituents present in the herbal supplement; therefore, this strategy cannot ensure phytoequivalence. Thus, a quality evaluation method for herbal supplement should be developed for simultaneous comprehensive elucidation of constituents based on chemical fingerprinting and quantitative analysis of important pharmacological compounds.Aquilaria (Thymelaeaceae) is a woody plant that is native to Southeast Asia. A. sinensis and A. crassna , also known as incense trees, are two representative species of the Aquilaria ( 1 ). In Thailand, A. crassna is systematically cultivated for its resin, which is processed to manufacture perfume. The leaves, which are a source of bioactive polyphenols, are u...