Geranii

We examined the in vivo effects of various extracts from Geranii Herba, and of geraniin, the main component of tannin of this herb, on rat liver injury induced by oral administration of peroxidized oil, and on lipid metabolism. As shown in "Table (6)", the administration of peroxidized oil for 5 days caused hyperlipidaemia with elevations of total cholesterol (TC), lipid peroxide (LPO), free fatty acid (FFA) and triglyceride (TG) as compared to the control values. Serum TC, FFA and LPO levels were found to be reduced in the rats orally given the acetone-water (1 1) extract of the leaf and leaf-stem (1 2), or the water extract of the leaf-stem as compared with the rats treated with peroxidized oil for 5 days "Table (6)". These extracts prevented the liver injury with the elevation of CJOT and GPT induced by peroxidized oil "Table (7)". As shown in "Table (8) and Table (9)", geraniin was also found to reduce the levels of serum TC, GOT and GPT in the peroxidized oil-treated rats. 

Table 6. (A) Cfuitents of tannins in the extracts of Geranii Herba...

Table 6. (B) Effects of the various extracts of Geranii Herba on serum total...

Table 8. Effects of geraniin isolated from Geranii Herba on serum TC, LPO, FFA and TG in rats fed peroxidized com oil for S days ...

The effects of a preparation containing berberine and the crude herb Geranii Herba on different diarrheal models in mice and the contractions of isolated guinea pig intestinal muscle were studied via comparison with a preparation containing creosote and loperamide. The results suggested that Geranii Herba exerted its antidiarrheal effect via the inhibition of intestinal movement, with the mechanism of action possibly differing from creosote and loperamide [257]. 

Further studies on the antidiarrheal effects of berberine and the crude herb Geranii Herba were undertaken, utilizing different diarrhea models of mice, as well as on the contractions of isolated guinea pig intestinal smooth muscle and rat intestinal peristalsis. The results were compared with those obtained after administration of atropine and papaverine. Berberine significantly inhibited both the castor oil- and BaCl2-induced diarrheas at oral doses higher than 25 mg/kg, but did not inhibit pilocarpine- or serotonin-induced diarrhea even at 250 mg/kg. Berberine inhibited acetylcholine- or BaCl2-induced contractions of the ileum and colon at a concentration of about 10 5 g/ml, and exhibited a noncompetitive inhibition of the contractile response induced by acetylcholine, whereas atropine displayed a competitive inhibition. Finally, berberine inhibited spontaneous intestinal peristalsis [258]. 

Nishimoto N, Inque J, Ogawa S, Takemoto T 1980 Studies on the active constituents of Geranii herba. III. The relaxative active substance on intestines. Shoyakugaku Zasshi 34 131-137... 

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