Pharmacological Studies of Gardeniae Fructus. II. Contribution of the Constituent Crude Drugs of Choleretic Activity of "Inchinko-to" ( ?? 〓 ?? ?? )in Rats

Abstract

Bile secretion was studied in rats given Inchinko-to, the most representative preparation for jaundice in Chinese medicine. Each of its 3 constituent crude drugs (Gardenia fruit, Artemisia capillaris and Rheum rhizome) was also studied. The extract of Gardenia fruit, hardly increased bile secretion, while genipin, an aglycone of geniposide which is present in this crude drug, markedly increased it. Essential oils from A. capillaris and its oil-free extract increased bile secretion and 6,7-dimethylesculetin, which is 1 of the components of this crude drug, also showed the same effect. The extract of Rheum rhizome was not effective in this test. The extract prepared from Inchinko-to increased bile secretion and its action seemed to depend highly on that induced by A. capillaris. The combination of genipin and 6,7-dimethyl-aesculetin synergistically increased bile secretion.