Anti-diarrhea activity of the aqueous root bark extract of Byrsocarpus coccineus on castor oil-induced diarrhea in Wistar rats

Abstract

Aim:The use of traditional medicine as an alternative source of cure for many ailments has played an important role in health care delivery in both developing and developed countries. Byrsocarpus coccineus Schum and Thonn (Connaraceae) is used in traditional medicine for treatment of various disease conditions, including diarrhea. The anti-diarrhea activity of the root bark aqueous extract of B. coccineus was investigated in this study.Materials and Methods:Acute toxicity evaluation of the aqueous extract of B. coccineus root bark was performed in exposed rats. Diarrhea was induced in exposed rats with castor oil, and the effect of the extract on castor oil-induced gastrointestinal motility and enteropooling was consequently investigated.Results:In the acute toxicity study, the extract caused no death in treated rats nor produced signs of delayed toxicity, even at 5000 mg/kg. The aqueous root bark extract of B. coccineus also decreased the distance travelled by activated charcoal in the gastrointestinal tract of treated rats when compared to control rats. Results of castor oil-induced enteropooling revealed slight reduction in the weight of intestinal contents of treated rats compared to control rats. There was significant (p<0.05) decrease in the frequency of defecation as well as in the number of unformed feces produced by castor oil-induced diarrhea at 100 mg/kg dose with 74.96% inhibition of defecation.Conclusion:The study demonstrated the anti-diarrheic property of the aqueous extract of B. coccineus root bark as currently exploited in our traditional herbal therapy.

Evaluation of Anti-Diarrheal Activity of Methanol Root Bark Extract of Milicia Excelsa (Welw) C. C Berg (Moraceae) in Rats

“…30 min after, the rats were individually placed in a cage with plain white paper covering the floor of the cage. Each animal was observed for 3 h for wet and dry feces and this was measured by the difference in initial and final weight of the paper with and without the excrements after 3 h period [25]. The percent inhibition was calculated from the total number of wet feces in the loperamide and MRBE treatment groups in relative to the control treated group.…”

“…30 min after, each animal was sacrificed and the abdomen opened. The distance travelled by the charcoal in the small intestine was measured and recorded [25].…”

Effects of Therapeutic and Toxic Agents on Erythrocytes of Different Species of Animals

“…Escherichia coli caused hemolysis in Rattus norvegicus that was attenuated by aqueous root back extract of Byrsocarpus coccineus. E. coli was eliminated from the intestine and other organs by the extract [65]. Chinchilla chinchilla breed of the rabbit had increased erythrocytes, PCV, and hemoglobin as compared with other breeds [66].…”

Anti-proliferative activities of Byrsocarpus coccineus Schum. and Thonn. (Connaraceae) using Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines

“…B. coccineus known as 'Amuje wewe or Ado kanti-kanti' is a scandent shrub and it is indigenous to Nigeria (West Africa). Studies have shown that the plant has anti-plasmodia [6], antimicrobial [7], and anti-diarrhea activity [8]. Fractions of B. coccineus have been reported to modulate cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme activity, cytokine production, and anti-proliferation in colon cancer cell lines [9].…”