Author/Authors :
Pang, Y. L. Hunan Agricultural University - National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, China , Pang, Y. L. Guilin Tea Science Research Institute of Guangxi, China , Han, X. F. Chinese Academy of Sciences - Institute of Subtropical Agriculture - Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, China , Bamikole, M. A. University of Benin - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Animal Science, Nigeria , Gong, Z. H. Hunan Agricultural University - National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, China , Tang, S. X. Chinese Academy of Sciences - Institute of Subtropical Agriculture - Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, China , Tan, Z. L. Chinese Academy of Sciences - Institute of Subtropical Agriculture - Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, China , Xiao, W. J. Hunan Agricultural University - National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, China , Zhou, C. S. Chinese Academy of Sciences - Institute of Subtropical Agriculture - Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, China , Wang, M. Chinese Academy of Sciences - Institute of Subtropical Agriculture - Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, China , Deng, Y. L. Hunan Agricultural University - National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, China
Abstract :
Purpose: To provide an experimental basis for the anti-diarrheal and anti-oxidant properties of the bark extract of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils., a Chinese traditional herb called magnolol.Methods: The effects of magnolol on castor oil-induced diarrhea, small intestinal transit (SIT) in mice were investigated. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of magnolol was assessed in mice by thefollowing parameters: glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), antioxidant enzyme activities and their gene expression level. Results: Compared with diarrhea model control group, magnolol (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg body weight) showed significant (p 0.05) inhibitory activity against castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. Administration of magnolol (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) also lowered neostigmine-induced SIT acceleration to 60.34 ± 5.17, 59.61 ± 7.66, and 54.12 ± 7.27 %, respectively, as against 70.1 ± 6.89 % for neostigmine control group. In vivo antioxidant assay results showed that mice treated with magnolol exhibited significantly (p 0.001) higher activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in blood, compared to control. Similarly, magnolol proups showed significantly higher CAT and SOD and T-AOC activities (p 0.01) than control in liver tissues. The 100 mg/kg magnolol group had significantly higher liver GSH content than normal control group (1.01 vs. 0.79 mg/mg protein). At 25 and 50 mg/kg doses, magnolol significantly enhanced gene expression levels of CAT (p 0.01) in liver.Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that magnolol possesses anti-diarrheal activity and is probably one of the main anti-diarrhea ingredients of Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis. Magnolol modulation of the activity and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes may therefore exert beneficial effects in antioxidant defense.
Keywords :
Magnolol , Diarrhea , Small intestinal transit , Antioxidant enzyme , Gene expression
