This project aims to investigate the in vivo and in vitro function of water fraction and elution fractions from L. cuneata in promoting gastrointestinal motility.In vivo,gastric residual rate and small intestinal propulsive rate were determined by semi-solid nutritional paste method after water fraction and elution fractions i.g.administration in mice,meanwhile,serum levels of MTL,Ghrelin and VIP were detected.In vitro,contractility of gastric fundus,body and antrum in guinea pigs,and contractility of jejunal tube in rabbits with or without atropine,norepinephrine and isoprenaline pre-treatment was determined after treatment of water fraction and elution fractions from L. cuneata.Results showed that water fraction and 20% ethanol elution fraction from L. cuneata could significantly decrease the gastric residual rate and improve the intestinal propulsion rate in mice,simultaneously,serum levels of MTL and Ghrelin were increased significantly,however,serum VIP level was decreased.After administration of water fraction and 20% ethanol elution fraction from L. cuneata,contraction wave amplitude,contraction frequency of gastric fundus circular muscle,gastric antrum circular muscle and gastric body longitudinal muscle were promoted in guinea pigs.Contraction amplitude and activity of the isolated jejunal tube was elevated significantly in rabbits.Atropine had no effect on contraction of jejunal tube in vitro caused by the treatment of 20% ethanol elution fraction from L. cuneata,while isoprenaline antagonized the contraction,and norepinephrine moderately inhibited the contraction as well.In conclusion,these results indicated that the water fraction from L. cuneata could promote gastrointestinal motility,the active fraction was 20% ethanol elution fraction,and its active component might be phenolic acids,their activation mechanism on gastrointestinal propulsion may be related to the increase of MTL,Ghrelin and the reduction of VIP levels,as well as the inhibiting function on the gastrointestinal β and α-adrenergic pathway.