Premium
Antidiarrhoeal activity of the aqueous extract of Terminalia avicennoides roots
Author(s) -
Abdullahi A. L.,
Agho M. O.,
Amos S.,
Gamaniel K. S.,
Wambebe C.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.860
Subject(s) - antidiarrhoeal , castor oil , phytochemical , jejunum , traditional medicine , in vivo , pharmacognosy , pharmacology , aqueous extract , apocynaceae , antispasmodic , chemistry , oral administration , acetylcholine , biochemistry , biological activity , medicine , biology , in vitro , microbiology and biotechnology
The antidiarrhoeal effects of the aqueous root extract of Terminalia avicennoides were evaluated in rodents. Studies were carried out on the isolated rabbit jejunum, gastrointestinal motility in vivo and on castor oil‐induced diarrhoea in mice. The results revealed that the extract exhibited a concentration‐dependent inhibition of the spontaneous pendular movement of the isolated rabbit jejunum and attenuated acetylcholine induced contractions. The extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) also caused a dose‐dependent decrease of gastrointestinal transit and markedly protected mice against castor oil‐induced diarrhoea. The intraperitoneal LD 50 of the extract was found to be 871.4–917.4 mg/kg in mice (95% confidence). A preliminary phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of T. avicennoides roots revealed the presence of tannins, saponins and flavonoids. The results obtained showed that the water extract of T. avicennoides roots may contain some biologically active principles that may be active against diarrhoea and this may be the basis for its use traditionally for gastrointestinal disorders. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.