STW 5 (Iberogast) and its individual herbal components modulate intestinal electrophysiology of mice

STW 5 (Iberogast), a phytomedicine agent consisting of a fixed combination of nine individual plant extracts, is widely used in the treatment of dyspepsia and motility related disorders. Little if anything is known on the possible influence on electrophysiological properties of intestinal smooth muscle by which STW 5 causes its beneficial effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether herbal extracts influence electrophysiological parameters of large and small intestine. For this purpose intracellular recordings of smooth muscle cell (SMC) of the circular muscle layer of different parts of mouse intestine were performed using standard microelectrode techniques. The resting membrane potential (RMP), excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in proximal colon, the frequency and the amplitude of slow waves in small intestine were investigated. The RMP of SMC was -46.4+/-3.8 mV, n=11 in the colon and -59+/-1.3 mV, n=15 in small intestine. STW 5 significantly depolarized the RMP of colonic (16.6+/-2.2 mV, n=6, p<0.05) and jejunal (9.6+/-1.6 mV, n=7, p<0.05) SMC. This depolarizing effect can be mainly attributed to the constituents of chamomile flower, Angelica root and greater celandine herb. Following the electrical field stimulations (EFSs), junction potentials are influenced in a distinct manner. Excitatory junctions potentials (EJPs) of the colon were not significantly reduced (13.1+/-4.8 vs. 10.1+/-2.8 n.s., n=6) but fast (fIJP) and slow (sIJP) inhibitory junction potentials of the murine colon are reduced significantly by STW 5 (fIJP: 21.6+/-8.1 vs. 11.6+/-2.1 and sIJP: 12.1+/-3.3 vs. 6.1+/-1.3 n=6, p<0.05). The basal frequency of small intestinal slow waves was 39.5+/-1.4 min(-1) and the amplitude was 23.1+/-0.9 mV, n=15. STW 5 significantly reduced amplitude and frequency of the slow waves (11.7+/-0.8 mV; 33.5+/-3.4 min(-1), n=6, p<0.05). This effect on slow waves represents the summation of effects of the nine individual phytoextracts. Whereas Angelica root and chamomile flower completely blocked the slow wave activity, bitter candy tuft increased the frequency and amplitude, greater celandine herb reduced frequency and amplitude of the slow wave, peppermint leaf reduced frequency and left amplitude unchanged and liquorice root, caraway fruit and lemon balm leaf had no effects in basic electrophysiological properties of SMC. This study demonstrates that STW 5 causes changes in SMC RMP, excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission and slow wave rhythmicity. These effects represent a summation effect of different constituents of this phytotherapeuticum and prove that STW 5 has characteristic effects on intestinal electrophysiology.