Antidiarrhoeic activity of quercitrin in mice and rats

Abstract

Quercitrin, a flavonoid isolated from Euphorbia hirta, shows antidiarrhoeic activity at doses of 50 mg kg-1, against castor oil- and PGE2-induced diarrhoea in mice, but not when magnesium sulphate is used as a cathartic agent. It also delays rat small intestinal transit if this is accelerated with castor oil. However, the flavonoid does not modify the fluid transport across the colonic mucosa when it is administered intraluminally, either in normal conditions or when this transport is altered by PGE2 or sodium picosulphate. However, quercetin, the aglycone of quercitrin, increases the colonic fluid absorption only in the presence of secretagogue compounds, such as PGE2 and sodium picosulphate. It is concluded that the antidiarrhoeic activity of quercitrin is due to its aglycone, quercetin, which is released by the glycoside in the intestine.

Antinociceptive, antidiarrheal, and neuropharmacological activities ofBarringtonia acutangula

“…Magnesium sulphate causes increased loss of intestinal content due to the reduction in reabsorption of water and cholecystokinin release from the duodenal mucosa. These increase the secretion and motility of small intestine, prevent the reabsorption of sodium chloride and water, and induce diarrhea (Gálvez et al, 1993;Uddin et al, 2005). In this study, the extracts showed a dose-dependent reduction in fecal droppings in both castor oil-and magnesium sulphate-induced diarrhea (Table 2).…”

Oral administration of quercitrin modifies intestinal oxidative status in rats

“…In a previous study it was demonstrated that quercitrin had antidiarrhoeic activity in several models of experimental diarrhoea in mice (Galvez et al, 1993b). In that study, the effects of quercitrin on small intestine transit as well as on fluid transport across the colonic mucosa in rats were also evaluated.…”

“…In previous studies we demonstrated that quercitrin showed antidiarrhoeic activity in mice and rats (Galvez et al, 1993a;Galvez et al, 1993b), from doses of 25 mg/kg, in several models of experimentally-induced diarrhoea.…”

“…First, we studied several enzymatic activities related to digestive and absorptive processes in the intestine, namely disaccharidase (maltase, sucrase and lactase) activities in jejunum and ileum, and alkaline phosphatase activity in colon; second, we evaluated the oxidative status in the intestinal mucosa, as quercitrin has been described to possess antioxidant properties (Galvez et al, 1993b), either by determination of glutathione content in the mucosa of jejunum, ileum and colon, or by inducing non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation in membrane fractions obtained from the above mentioned mucosa. The effects on the oxidative status could be interesting on the basis of its possible application in some intestinal diseases which have been related to the production of free radicals, such 1238 Juuo GALVEZ et al…”

Prophylactic and curative anti-ulcerative colitis activity and the possible mechanisms of action of some desert plants

“…Five extracts were potential antioxidants: C. dioscoridis, Solanum nigrum, Salvia lanigera, O. syriacum 6 , and Solenostemma arghel 10 . Both C. dioscoridis and E. hirta extracts showed antidiarrheal 11,12 , hypoglycemic 13,14 , and antimicrobial activities 15,16 . In addition, Salvia lanigera aerial parts ether soluble fraction was found to be highly effective against Gram-positive bacteria (Sreptomyces viridochromogenes) 17 .…”