Gastrointestinal effects of standardized Brazilian phytomedicine (Arthur de Carvalho Drops®) containing Matricaria recutita, Gentiana lutea and Foeniculum vulgare.

Arthur de Carvalho Drops® (ACD) is a traditional Brazilian herbal medicine used to treat functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). ACD is a formulation of herbal extracts from Matricaria recutita (chamomile), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) and Gentiana lutea L. (gentian). Considering the popular use for FGIDs, the aim of this work was to investigate the ACD effect on gastric and intestinal parameters with emphasis in a mechanistic approach using isolated duodenal preparations of rodents. Analytical method was developed and validated for quantify three actives principles/markers (Apigenin-7-glucoside, gentiopicroside and anethole) in ACD. The treatment with ACD significantly reduced the emetogenic stimuli induced by cisplatin in rats, showed a laxative effect, reduced the bethanechol-enhanced gastrointestinal transit and completely reversed the contraction induced by carbachol in rat duodenum. However, ACD did not alter the secretory gastric volume or total gastric acidity. The ACD affect the contractions of duodenal smooth muscle mediated by Ca²⁺ channels and it is also able to inhibit the contractile response mediated by the release from its intracellular store. Furthermore, the relaxant effects of ACD appear independent of the nitric oxide pathway in rat duodenum. These results suggest that ACD could be beneficial for the treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.