Effect of jatrorrhizine on delayed gastrointestinal transit in rat postoperative ileus

Objectives Postoperative ileus is major cause of postoperative complication and prolonged hospitalization. Jatrorrhizine, which is a protoberberine alkaloid isolated from the medicinal plants Berberis aristata and Coptis chinensis, has been found to increase contractility of gastric antral and ileum smooth muscles of rat gastrointestinal tract. We have investigated whether jatrorrhizine could offset gastrointestinal transit in rat with postoperative ileus. Methods Postoperative ileus was induced by laparotomy with intestinal manipulation under anaesthesia. Gastrointestinal transit was evaluated by measurement of gastric emptying, geometric centre and the migration of Evans blue. Key findings Postoperative ileus significantly delayed gastric emptying and intestinal transit. Jatrorrhizine dose‐dependently (0.1, 0.3 and 1 mg/kg) offset delayed gastric emptying and intestinal transit (geometric centre and the migration of Evans blue) in postoperative ileus. Pretreatment of animals with atropine inhibited the action of jatrorrhizine on gastric emptying and intestinal transit, but pretreatment of animals with SB204070 did not influence the effect of jatrorrhizine on gastric emptying and intestinal transit in postoperative ileus. Conclusions Jatrorrhizine offset postoperative ileus‐induced delayed gastric emptying and intestinal transit in rats, an action mediated via the cholinergic pathway, but not involving activation of 5‐HT₄ receptors.