Effects of Biling Weitong granules on gastrointestinal motility and gastrointestinal hormones levels in rats with functional dyspepsia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Biling Weitong granules on gastrointestinal motility and serum mouse motilin/human vasoactive intestinal peptide (MTL/VIP) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit levels in functional dyspepsia (FD) rat models, and explore its therapeutic mechanisms against FD to provide further clinical application data. METHODS: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into blank group (BG) and model group (MG). FD was induced in MG via30-d chronic unpredictable stress. After successful modeling, the model rats were divided into MG BG, Biling Weitong granules low/middle/high-dose (BL/BM/BH), and trimebutine maleate (TM) groups (n = 7/group) for 14-d treatments. At the end of the gavage, General parameters (body weight, food intake), gastrointestinal motility indices (gastric emptying and small intestinal propulsion rates), serum MTL/VIP levels, and gastric antrum histopathology were analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. RESULTS: After 30 d of modeling, compared with the BG group, rats in the MG group presented FD-like symptoms such as lethargy and irritability, along with significantly decreased body weight and food intake (P < 0.05). The gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were significantly reduced (P < 0.01), and the serum MTL content significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Serum VIP levels were significantly increased (P < 0.01). After 14 d of treatment, compared with the MG group, rats in the BL, BM, BH, and TM groups exhibited improved general condition, with significantly increased body weight and food intake (P < 0.05); significantly faster gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate (P < 0.01); and significantly higher serum MTL content (P < 0.01). The serum VIP levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in body weight or food intake between the BM group and BH group (P > 0.05). Consistently, there were no significant differences in gastric emptying rate, small intestinal propulsion rate, or serum MTL and VIP contents between the BH and TM groups (P > 0.05). HE staining revealed no marked changes in the gastric antrum tissues of the BG, MG, or drug groups. CONCLUSION: Biling Weitong granules can modulate the levels of the gastrointestinal hormones MTL and VIP in FD rats, promote gastric emptying and small intestinal propulsion, improve the gastrointestinal motility and mental status of FD rats, and alleviate the symptoms of FD, accounting for its efficacy against FD.