Tong Xie Yao Fang relieves irritable bowel syndrome in rats via mechanisms involving regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine and substance P

Table 1 Impact of Tong Xie Yao Fang on defecation frequency (mean ± SD, n = 10 per each group)

	Number of stools (n)
Normal	1.8 ± 1.03b
IBS model	4.5 ± 1.58
IBS + positive	2.8 ± 1.40a
IBS + TXYF	3.0 ± 1.25a

^aP < 0.05,

^bP < 0.01, vs IBS model group. IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; TXYF: Tong Xie Yao Fang.

Table 2 Impact of Tong Xie Yao Fang on the colon transit function in rats (n = 10 per each group)

	Duration of glass bead discharge (s)
Normal	356.38 ± 24.28b,d,f
IBS model	93.36 ± 17.28d,f,h
IBS + positive	193.0 ± 22.53b,f,h
IBS + TXYF	256.88 ± 20.32b,d,h

^bP < 0.01 vs IBS model group;

^dP < 0.001 vs IBS + positive group;

^fP < 0.001 vs IBS + TXYF group;

^hP < 0.01 vs normal group. IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; TXYF: Tong Xie Yao Fang.

Table 3 Comparison of Tong Xie Yao Fang and stimulants on rat colon contraction ex vivo

Model	Treatment	Group	Dosage	Tension(g)	Frequency (n/min)
Normal		Basal	-	3.59 ± 0.81	34.6 ± 6.3b
		TXYF	2.03 mg/kg	3.26 ± 0.68a	31.8 ± 7.6
	Barium	Basal	-	3.36 ± 0.89a,c	32.7 ± 7.2d
		Barium	10%, 50 μL	4.45 ± 0.76c,f	42.5 ± 6.4d,f
		TXYF	2.03 mg/kg	3.44 ± 0.78f	34.1 ± 6.7f
	Acetylcholine	Basal	-	2.51 ± 0.61b,c	34.9 ± 6.7b
		Acetylcholine	0.01%, 150 μL	3.11 ± 0.42b,c,e	36.9 ± 7.1
		TXYF	2.03 mg/kg	2.42 ± 0.48b,e	35.9 ± 7.9
	Histamine	Basal	-	3.76 ± 0.58d	34.9 ± 6.2b
		Histamine	1%, 100 μL	4.76 ± 0.69d,f	38.1 ± 6.9
		TXYF	2.03 mg/kg	3.89 ± 0.73f	35.2 ± 6.2
IBS model		Basal	-	4.23 ± 0.62	43.2 ± 5.7b
		TXYF	2.03 mg/kg	3.99 ± 0.73a	38.2 ± 6.2
	Barium	Basal	-	4.23 ± 0.62a	43.2 ± 5.7
		TXYF	2.03 mg/kg	3.73 ± 0.63	37.2 ± 6.7
		Barium	10%, 50 μL	4.25 ± 0.73	43.5 ± 7.4
	Acetylcholine	Basal	-	4.23 ± 0.62b	43.2 ± 5.7b
		TXYF	2.03 mg/kg	3.81 ± 0.64b,e	37.9 ± 7.1
		Acetylcholine	0.01%, 150 μL	4.69 ± 0.78b,e	39.2 ± 6.3
	Histamine	Basal	-	4.23 ± 0.62g	43.2 ± 5.7b,g
		TXYF	2.03 mg/kg	3.41 ± 0.64f,g	34.9 ± 7.1g
		Histamine	1%, 100 μL	4.39 ± 0.73f	38.2 ± 7.2

^aP < 0.05;

^bP < 0.01, normal vs IBS model;

^cP < 0.05,

^dP < 0.01, basal vs barium/acetylcholine/histamine;

^eP < 0.05,

^fP < 0.01, barium/acetylcholine/histamine vs TXYF;

^gP < 0.05, basal vs TXYF. IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; TXYF: Tong Xie Yao Fang.