Stixis suaveolens (Roxb.) Fruit Extract Deciphered Antidepressant and Antidiarrheal Effects via In vivo Approach

Abstract

Depression is a pervasive psychiatric disorder worldwide and diarrhea is considered a leading cause of preventable death for infants and children in developing countries. The current study was done to assess in vivo activities of crude methanol extract of Stixis suaveolens fruit, focusing on antidepressant and antidiarrheal effects. The effect on central nervous system (CNS) was examined by recording the onset of sleep and total sleeping time. Besides, castor oil-induced diarrhea in the mice model was followed while evaluating the antidiarrheal effects. Significant (p<0.01) reduction in onset time (64.8 min) as well as in total sleeping time (64.8 min) were recorded between the test groups and the control. The extract, when given orally, also resulted in a significant (p < 0.001) reduction of diarrheal feces induced by castor oil by 71.43%. The in vivo bioassays demonstrated that the crude methanol extract of the fruit of S. suaveolens contains significant antidiarrheal and CNS stimulating actions. However, further vigorous studies are recommended to isolate and characterize the major phytoconstituents from the plant in order to develop the exact mechanism of actions of the plant against various disorders. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 26(1): 28-35, 2023 (January)

Recent Development of a Traditional Herbal Medicine, Stixis suaveolens (Roxb.) Pierre: Its Botany, Ethnomedicine, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology

“…27,28 In contrast, the whole fruit, for its anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic properties, has been used by the communities in Tripura. 11,15 In Bangladesh, its fruit is prescribed by folk medicine practitioners (Kabirajes) to treat chronic diseases, such as asthma and cardiovascular ailments. 11,15…”

“…11,15 In Bangladesh, its fruit is prescribed by folk medicine practitioners (Kabirajes) to treat chronic diseases, such as asthma and cardiovascular ailments. 11,15…”

“…Furthermore, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidepressant, antidiarrheal, antihemolytic, and thrombolytic activities have been reported. 12,15,24 Phenolic and Phenolic Glycoside Compounds. In a previous study by Anh et al, 14 a silica gel column chromatography technique was carried out to isolate the significant compounds after the EA fraction was obtained by reversed-phase column chromatography (RP-18 column) from the crude methanolic extract.…”

“…Various compounds and extracts from different parts of S. suaveolens have demonstrated significant pharmacological effects and multiple health benefits. These include antioxidant, 19,24 antimicrobial, 24 antihyperglycemic, 12,43 anti-inflammatory, 30 antidepressant, 43 antidiarrheal, 15 hepatoprotective, 44 and analgesic activities, 12,43 as well as other bioactivities. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the biological activities, which are presented below (Table 3).…”

Chemical Profiling and Biological Activities of Ziziphus Mauritiana var. spontanea (Edgew.) R.R. Stewart ex Qaiser & Nazim. and Oenothera Biennis L.

“…It mainly afects neonates and babies and is a signifcant cause of illness and mortality in developing countries [13]. Medicinal plants are reservoirs of essential antidiarrheal bioactive constituents without any side efects and can be used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, for example, constipation and diarrhea [14].…”