Effect on smooth muscle coptis

Berberine has excitatory effects on other smooth muscles such as the uterus, bladder, bronchus, and gastrointestinal tract except for its relaxing effect on vascular smooth muscle. The excitability of the uterus in isolated guinea pigs and cats is even greater than that of North American berberine, which is of significance in the application of obstetrics and gynecology. Coptis decoction on the isolated rabbit intestine, low concentrations increase the tension of the intestine, and the concentration is too high to cause relaxation.