Effect Of Urtica On The Motility Of Digestive Tract In Mice And Sheep

Urtica is rich in Xinjiang,especially Urtica Cannabina(UC)and Urtica angustifolia(UA).In order to explore the effect of Urtica on the motility of digestive tract in mice and sheep,effect between UC and UA on the motility of small intestine in vitro and in vivo in mice and sheep were compared.Firstly,to compare the different effect of Urtica extract treated by drying and high temperature,the increasing concentration of UC and UA on the motility of small intestine in vitro in mice was tested using biological signal processing system.Results showed that the three kinds of extract enhanced the motility of small intestine,and the minimal and maximum effective concentration were 0.2% and5.0%,respectively.Three kinds of 0.2% extract significantly promoted the contraction tension of small intestine(P < 0.05),and the effect of fresh and dry extract on contraction tension of small intestine was significantly stronger than that of boiled extract(P < 0.05).The area under the curve within 1 min after 5.0% dry extract treatment was significantly higher than that of fresh extract,and there was no significant difference between the other two treatments(P > 0.05).Secondly,this study explored the effect of feeding different concentration of UC and UA on the motility of digestive tract in mice.Results showed that when food intake was increased in a dose-dependent manner when mice fed with UC for one month.Moreover,food intake of 50% UC group was significantly higher than that of 12.5% UC group(P < 0.05);that of 25% UC group was significantly higher than that of the 25% alfalfa group(P < 0.05).Body weight of 25% UC group was significantly higher than that of 50% UC group,25% UA group and 25% alfalfa group(P < 0.05).On the visceral,Urtica mainly affected liver and spleen.On blood physiological index,it mainly affects the number of red blood cells and white blood cells.Comparing mouse liver,fundus gland region and small intestine mucosa tissue between the mice fed half a month and one month,the liver was found been damaged by feeding 50% UC,and with a time-dependent manner;After feeding for 2 weeks,the villous length of small intestine was the longest in the 25% UC group,and significantly higher than that of the 50% UC group and control group(P < 0.05),and significantly higher than that of the 25% UA group and the 25% alfalfa group(P < 0.01);In fourth week,the crypt depth of the 25% UA group was significantly higher than that of 25% alfalfa group(P < 0.01).Finally,the changes of gastrointestinal bioelectricity in sheep fed by alfalfa and UC were measured.Results showed that the respiratory rate of sheep fed by UC was significantly higher than that of Alfalfa(P < 0.05),and the total number of leucocytes was significantly lower than that of alfalfa fed(P < 0.05).The duration of digestive interval in sheep fed by UC was significantly prolonged,and the gastrointestinal motility was significantly enhanced.The present study showed that fresh extract,dry extract and boiled extract of Urtica significantly promoted the motility of isolated small intestine in mice;Feeding Urtica enhances gastrointestinal digestion and absorption.It’s suggested that dry Urtica was likely to be used as forage or drugs to treat the gastrointestinal motility disorder in ruminants,however,the dose should be careful due to some toxicity of Urtica.