Evaluation of Lysimachia christinae Hance extracts as anticholecystitis and cholagogic agents in animals

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Lysimachia christinae Hance is one of the herbs commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cholecystitis and cholagogic efficiency. Aims of the study: The water extract of Lysimachia christinae Hance was investigated to see if it possesses cholecystitis and cholagogic effects through traditional pathways. Materials and methods: Lithocholic acid (LCA) and Escherichia coli were used to induce cholecystitis in adult guinea pigs. The present study evaluated the cholagogic effects of LCHE treatment on bile secretion and bile emptying in Sprague-Dawley rats and male Kunming mice. Results: The results showed that LCHE not only produced excellent anticholecystitis effects but also improved lesion severity in gallbladders induced by LCA. Similarly, LCHE administered to animals in the high-dose group exhibited an antibacterial effect in acute cholecystitis, and treatment with a mid-range or a high dose of LCHE resulted in an antipyretic effect, however, three doses of LCHE treatment groups had no effect on pathological change induced by Escherichia coli in gallbladder. Treatment with a high dose of LCHE significantly promoted bile secretion (0-90 min, P < 0.01), and treatment with a mid-range dose also significantly promoted bile secretion (30-60 min P < 0.05). Furthermore, treatment with a high dose of LCHE significantly promoted bile emptying (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that LCHE exhibits a marked anticholecystitis and cholagogic activity in animals, which supports previous claims of its use in traditional Chinese medicine. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.