Preliminary antidiarrhoeal activity of methanolic extracts of Securinega virosa (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

Securinega virosa is used as remedy for diarrhoea in tropical Africa, but has not been investigated for its antidiarrhoeal activity. This study was therefore aimed at investigating the methanolic extracts of the leaves, stem bark and root bark for antidirrhoeal activity, using castor oil-induced diarrhoeal model in mice. The effects of these extracts on perfused isolated rabbit jejunum were also evaluated. The methanolic leaves extract (8 x 10 -5 -1.6 x 10 -3 mg ml-1) produced a dose-dependent relaxation of the rabbit jejunum, while the methanolic stem bark and root bark extracts (2 x 10 -5 -3.2 x 10 -3 mg ml-1) produced contraction of the tissue. The methanolic root bark extract produced a dose-dependent protection against the castor oil-induced diarrhoea with the highest protection (100%), obtained at 100 mg kg-1 comparable to that of loperamide (5 mg kg-1), the standard agent. The leaves extract also protected the mice but was not dose-dependent. The highest protection (60%) was obtained at the lowest dose (50 mg kg-1). The stem bark extract did not protect the animal against diarrhoea. The preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed that the three extracts contained similar phytochemical constituents which include alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. However, only the leaves extract contained anthraquinone glycosides. The acute toxicity test revealed the median lethal dose (LD 50 ) values for the leaves, stem bark and root bark extracts to be 1265, 288.5 and 774.6 mg kg-1 respectively. This suggests that the stem bark extract is relatively the most toxic. These results obtained revealed that the leaves and root bark extracts possess pharmacological activity against diarrhoea and may possibly explain the use of the plant in traditional medicine.

Comparative Study of the Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Compounds Isolated from Solvent Extracts of the Roots of <i>Securinega virosa</i>

“…S. virosa is believed to be a very important medicinal plant in Africa and is described as a true "cure all" plant; having all its parts, that is the leaves, roots, stem and fruits all used as remedies. The root is considered the most active part [12] [13]. The root extract of S. virosais associated with the treatment of ailments such as diabetes, diarrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, epilepsy, upper respiratory tract infections (colds and tuberculosis); renal calculus, rheumatism, tumours, gastrointestinal conditions such as stomach-ache, dysentery, intestinal worms and schistosomiasis; malaria, frigidity, arthritis and impotence [13].…”

Central depressant activity of butanol fraction of Securinega virosa root bark in mice

“…The root decoction is used for gonnorhoea, in female infertility, diarrhea, rectal and uterine prolapse, stomach aches (Neuwinger, 1996) and as sedative in children (Robert, 1961). Previous studies have reported the antibacterial (Khan et al, 1980), antifungal (Sawney et al, 1978), hypoglycemic (Moshi et al, 2000), anticonvulsant (Magaji et al, 2007a), anti-diarrheal (Magaji et al, 2007b), analgesic and anti-inflammatory (Magaji et al, 2008a) properties of the root of Securinega virosa. The crude methanol root bark extract of Securinega virosa has also been reported to prolong total duration of sleep induced by diazepam and decrease the number of head dips in hole-board test, in mice (Magaji et al, 2008b).…”

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“…More than 5-8 Million infants and children below 5 years old die every year of Diarrhoea especially in developing countries. A nationwide study conducted has estimated that Diarrhoea kills more than 1 million children per year in India alone [4][5][6][7] . There is therefore an urgent need for the intensification of research into medicinal plants claimed to be effective in the management of diarrhoea.…”