Abstract: AIM: To evaluate effects of rutecarpine on the movements of gastrointestinal tract in experiment alanimals.METHODS: In mice, the accelerated movement model of intestinal transit was induced by neostig-mine, and metoclopramide or apoplon was applied to induce the accelerated gastric emptying movements. Acetylcholine or histamine was used to induce the contractions occurring in the isolated ileum from guinea pigs.RESULTS: Rutecarpine inhibited normal intestinal transit and demonstrated more effective suppression on the accelerated movement induced by neostigmine in mice; meto clopramide and apoplon induced-accelerated gastric emp-tying movements were also significantly inhibited by rutecarpine in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile rute-carpine significantly inhibited the isolated ileum contractions induced by acetylcholine or histamine.CONCLUSION: Rutecarpine is an effective inhibitor to intestinal motility and this activity is probably mediated by its an-tagonistic effects on the cholinergic nerve or its responsible modulations.

Key words: rutecarpine, gastric emptying, gastrointestinal transit, ileum, acetylcholine, histamine