Effect of Ayuraved Siriraj Herbal Recipe “Wattana†on Gastric Emptying Rate

Abstract

Background: Wattana, an herbal recipe from Ayuraved Siriraj, has been used as an analeptic remedy, enhancing fitness, anti-aging, increasing appetite and attenuating abnormal gastric motility since 1982. One of the factors that induce abnormal gastric motility is delayed gastric emptying rate (GER).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Wattana on GER in healthy volunteers.

Methods: Seventeen healthy male volunteers (age 26.76 ± 1.16 years, body mass index (BMI) 20.30 ± 0.43 kg/ m2 ; mean ± SEM) were studied on two separate days, with a wash out period of at least one week. After an overnight fast, each subject consumed 3 tablets of Wattana or placebo with 150 ml water, 10 minutes before drinking 15 g glucose in 150 ml water. Then 1 g paracetamol with 150 ml water was consumed 20 minutes after that. Blood samples were collected 11 times in three hours (at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 150 and 180 minutes) for gastric emptying evaluation. The feeling of hunger, fullness, abdominal discomfort, bloating, and nausea were assessed by visual analog scale (VAS). Serum paracetamol concentrations were analyzed, mean serum paracetamol concentrations, peak serum concentrations (Cmax), time to peak serum concentrations (Tmax) and area under the serum paracetamol concentration-time curve (AUC) and VAS score were determined.

Results: Mean serum paracetamol concentrations after Wattana consumption tended to be higher than after placebo. There was no significant difference in Tmax, AUC and VAS score between Wattana or placebo consumption. However, Cmax after Wattana was significantly higher than placebo (p = 0.044). It was noticed that all volunteers felt sleepy after Wattana consumption.

Conclusion: Wattana showed no effect on gastric emptying rate, but tended to increase the paracetamol absorption in the small intestine. A sedating effect of Wattana was noted.