Effects of the Japanese kampo medicine, Rikkunshito, on gastrointestinal motility functions

Background: Rikkunshito is known as a prokinetic agent for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. Objectives: The objective was to find the effect of GI motility with Rikkunshito. Materials and Methods: The prokinetic effect of Rikkunshito was investigated by studying the gastric emptying (GE) and intestinal transit rate (ITR) or experimentally induced GI motility dysfunction (GMD). Results: The oral administration of Rikkunshito significantly increased GE and ITR and restored the delayed GE and ITR. Its effect was similar to that of conventional prokinetics, such as domperidone and mosapride. Moreover, we made the mouse GMD models, such as acetic acid or streptozotocin, and ITR had shown a great decrease. This decrease was recovered by Rikkunshito. Conclusion: Rikkunshito revealed its prokinetic effect through an increase of GE and ITR. We found a great possibility of Rikkunshito for the GI control drug.