It has been suggested that hepatic regeneration is closely related to both hepatic fibrosis and hepatic sinusoidal capillarization. The serum hyaluronan level is regarded as a useful predictor for hepatic regeneration after hepatectomy.

INTRODUCTIONSeirogan is a mixture of guaiacol, creosol and other related phenolic compounds 1 and is a medicinal alkaloid which has been used for many years in Asia for the treatment of diarrhoea.2 Although the exact mechanisms of the anti-diarrhoeal effects of seirogan are unknown, several possibilities exist: it may inhibit intestinal water and electrolyte secretion; promote intestinal absorption; or alter intestinal motility. Previous ®ndings with seirogan have demonstrated that at least part of the anti-diarrhoeal effect may be due to an inhibition of gastrointestinal motility, 3, 4 with a consequent increase in intestinal transit time.3 Other evidence suggests that seirogan has effects on water and electrolyte transport because it prevents castor oilinduced diarrhoea in rats 3 and suppresses enterotoxininduced intestinal¯uid secretion in rabbit jejunum in vivo.5 There is currently no direct evidence for the action of seirogan on mucosal ion transport, and so the primary aim of our experiments was to perform in vitro studies in a modi®ed Ussing chamber to determine whether seirogan has any effect on the intestinal mucosa. This was studied by measuring transmural PD across the small intestinal and colonic tissue under basal and hypersecretory conditions. Transmural PD is an electrical measure of changes in mucosal ion transport, and in the presence of intestinal SUMMARY Background: Seirogan is a beechwood extract composed of guaiacol, creosol and other related phenolic compounds which is widely used as an anti-diarrhoeal agent in Asia. Abnormalities in water and electrolyte transport are often the cause of diarrhoea, but the mechanism of action of seirogan on small intestinal and colonic mucosal ion transport is unknown. Aim: To examine the effect of seirogan on electrogenic ion transport in vitro. Methods: Sheets of rat jejunum and colon were mounted in Ussing chambers, and transmural potential difference (PD) was used as an electrical marker of changes in mucosal ion transport. Hypersecretory conditions were induced by acetylcholine (ACh).