Magnolia officinalis Extract Regulates Interstitial Cells of Cajal Ca2+ Flow via SCF/c-Kit Pathway

Our previous research demonstrated that Magnolia officinalis extract could improve the gastric motility disorder in murine model, which may mainly because of regulation on interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). In this study, we further investigated the effects of M. officinalis extract on ICC in vitro. We found that M. officinalis extract increase ICC viability, maintains intracellular and extracellular calcium ion concentrations via down-regulation Ca2+-ATPase and up-regulation of L-type Ca2+ channel expressions, which may lead a faster initial stage of pacemaker potential formation in ICC, while blocking SCF (stem cell factor)/c-kit signaling by toceranib, a small molecular c-kit inhibitor, can eliminate M. officinalis extract above effects. Our findings indicate that M. officinalis extract regulates the Ca2+ flow via SCF/c-kit pathway, which may be the mechanism of improving gastrointestinal motility disorder.