Abstract: To explore the effect of Luohanshen produced from Shan County of Shandong Province on the feces excretion function in mice. MethodsMice were randomly divided into the small intestine motor experiment group and the defecation experiment group. Then each group was randomly divided into five equal groups (the blank control group, the model control group, the low dose group, the middle dose group and the high dose group). Mice of the model control group and three dose groups had the constipation model established with compound Diphenoxylate after 15 days feeding with basal diet or basal diet containing 5%, 10% or 15% Luohanshen. The effect of Luohanshen on the feces excretion function in the constipated model mice was studied by small intestine motor experiments and defecation experiments. Defecation function of the normal mice was assessed in the blank control group and three dose groups of defecation experiment group after feeding three more days. ResultsThe small intestine motor experiments showed that the inkimpelling ratio of the middle and high dose groups was increased compared with the model control group(P＜0.01, P＜0.05). The defecation experiment on the constipation model mice showed that the time of the first ink defecation in the three dose groups was shorter than that of the control group(P＜0.01), the quantity and the weight of feces of the low and middle dose groups were higher than those of the control group in 5 hours(P＜0.05). The defecation experiment on normal mice showed that except for the time of the first ink defecation, no significant differences were found from the blank control group(P＜0.05). ConclusionThe results indicate that Luohanshen has a positive effect on purgation in constipated mice but has no effect in normal mice.

Key words: Luohanshen, Feces excretion, Constipation model, Mice