摘要:Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are characterized by abdominal pain, bloating and bowel disturbances. FGID therapy is primarily symptomatic, including treatment with herbal remedies. Flower extract of
Tilia tomentosa Moench (
TtM) is occasionally used as an anti-spasmodic in popular medicine. Since its effect on intestinal response is unknown, we evaluated the influence of
TtM extract on small intestine contractility. Ileal preparations from C57BL/6J mice were mounted in organ baths to assess changes in muscle tension, following addition of
TtM extract (0.5–36 μg/mL) or a vehicle (ethanol). Changes in contractile response to receptor- and non-receptor-mediated stimuli were assessed in ileal preparations pretreated with 12 μg/mL
TtM. Alterations in the enteric nervous system neuroglial network were analyzed by confocal immunofluorescence. Increasing addition of
TtM induced a marked relaxation in ileal specimens compared to the vehicle. Pretreatment with
TtM affected cholinergic and tachykininergic neuromuscular contractions as well as K
+-induced smooth muscle depolarization. Following incubation with
TtM, a significant reduction in non-adrenergic non-cholinergic-mediated relaxation sensitive to Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (pan-nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) was found. In vitro incubation of intestinal specimens with
TtM did not affect the myenteric plexus neuroglial network. Our findings show that
TtM-induced intestinal relaxation is mediated by nitric oxide pathways, providing a pharmacological basis for the use of
TtM in FGIDs.