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This paper summarizes researches from 2000 to 2010 on Chinese medicine materials that promote digestion. It categorizes them as tonics, digestives, Qi-regulating drugs, aromatic drugs for dispelling dampness, astringents, drugs for warming the interior and drugs for inducing diuresis and excreting dampness, and elaborates their gastrointestinal mucosal protective effects respectively. The mechanism of drugs protecting gastrointestinal mucosa lies in improving gastrointestinal immunity, and regulating intestinal flora and gastrointestinal hormone level. At present, chemical medicines promoting gastrointestinal motility, such as Motihium and Cisapride, have limited effects along with obvious side effects. Hence, the development of Chinese medicine promoting digestion has a bright prospect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To explore the effects of codonopsis polysaccharide on mice and rats' digestive functions. [Methods] Male rats were randomly divided into blank group, positive control group (sijunzi decoction concentrated solution, 1.5 g/kg), low-dosage group (50 mg/kg), medium-dosage group (100 mg/kg) and high-dosage group (200 mg/kg), and were fed according to dose of 0. 01 mL/kg. Everyday fed rats with drugs by intagastric administration for one time, last for 30 days and then observed body weight, weight gain, food intake dose and food utilization rate and measured pepsin activity and amount of pepsin secretion; Female mice were randomly divided into blank group, positive control group (sijunzi decoction concentated solution, 3 g/kg), low-dosage group (100 mg/kg), middle-dosage group (200 mg/kg) and high-dosage group (400 mg/kg), and were fed according to dose of 0. 01 mL/kg. Everyday fed mice with drugs by intragastric administration for one time, last for 20 days and conducted small intestine motion testing, measured propulsive rate of active carbon powder in mice's small intestnes and observed the pathological section of gastrointestinal tract in rat. [Results] Codonopsis pilosula (200, 400 mg/kg) can improve small intestine propulsion decrease induced by compound diphenoxlte and reduce gastric secretion in rats. Codonopsis pilosula (400 mg/kg) can significantly increase the amount of pepsin secretion. Low, medium and high dosage can significandy enhance animal appetite and food intake and increase the animal body weight. The observation of the pathologcal section of gastrointestinal tract in rats confirmed that codonopsis pilosula could improve gastrointestinal physiology, increase the thickness of gastric mucosal and gastric wall, promote the growth of micro intestinal villus in duodenum and jejunum. [Conclusions] Codonopsis pilosula has healthcare function of improving digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]