To explore the effects of modified xiaochengqi decoction on gastrointestinal motility and serum levels of motilin and somatostatin levels in rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ).

The healthy SD male rats were randomly divided into the control group, sham group, surgical model of OJ+modified xiaochengqi decoction (OJ+M) group and surgical model of OJ group, with 10 rats in each group. Blood samples were collected via the caudal vein on the 3rd, 5th and 7th day after modeling and experimental intervention. ELISA assay was employed to determine serum motilin and somatostatin levels, and then intestinal propulsion test was conducted using activated carbon to observe intestinal peristalsis on the 8th day, thereby identifying the effect of modified xiaochengqi decoction on intestinal peristalsis of rats with OJ.

On the 5th, 7th day after bile duct ligation, serum motilin level in OJ+M group was higher than that in sham group and OJ group, and the differences were statistically significant among groups (P<0.05). On the 3rd day after bile duct ligation, serum somatostatin level was higher in OJ+M group than that in sham group, but lower than that in control group and OJ group, with significant differences (P<0.05). The levels of serum somatostatin were increased in all rats on the 5th and 7th day after the operation, yet the serum somatostatin level was obviously lower in OJ+M group than those in other groups (P<0.05). The intestinal propelling index was 0.596±0.009 in control group, 0.470±0.021 in sham group, 0.520±0.013 in OJ+M group, and 0.350±0.008 in OJ group, while OJ+M group was higher than sham group and OJ group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).

Modified xiaochengqi decoction enhances gastrointestinal peristalsis and accelerates the recovery of gastrointestinal function in OJ rats by increasing serum motilin level and reducing serum somatostatin level.