Abstract
Introduction Diarrheal diseases are associated with an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually, with most occurring in resource-limited countries; up to 25% of deaths in young children living in Africa and southeast Asia are attributable to acute gastroenteritis. Due to limitations associated with various treatments available, the need for developing newer drugs is imperative. Objective This study was aimed to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of root extract and fractions of C. abyssinica Jaub. & Spach. (Euphorbiaceae) in mice. Methods After plant extraction and subsequent fractionation of the crude extract, the antidiarrheal activity was screened in castor oil induced diarrhea, castor oil induced enteropooling, and gastrointestinal motility test models accordingly. Result The root extract of C. abyssinica produced neither visible signs of toxicity nor death at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg, suggesting the LD50 > 2000 mg/kg. In the castor oil induced diarrheal model, the highest dose of the extract (400 mg/kg) showed a maximal inhibition in the onset (158.00 ± 14.64, p < 0.01, in minutes) of wet feces as compared to the negative control. In the enteropooling model, 400 mg/kg treated mice showed a significant reduction in volume (0.47 ± 0.02 ml, p < 0.01) and weight (0.50 ± 0.02 g, p < 0.05) of intestinal content as compared to the vehicle treated group. In the gastrointestinal motility test, the hydromethanolic root extract of C. abyssinica significantly inhibited the intestinal transit of charcoal meal at 400 mg/kg. In addition, chloroform and n-butanol fractions significantly reduced the distance moved by charcoal at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, whereas aqueous fraction showed a significant effect at all test doses. The highest antidiarrheal index was observed at the maximal dose of extract and each fraction. Conclusion The results obtained showed that the findings provide scientific support for the folkloric repute of C. abyssinica roots as treatment of diarrhea.
Highlights
Diarrheal diseases are associated with an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually, with most occurring in resource-limited countries; up to 25% of deaths in young children living in Africa and southeast Asia are attributable to acute gastroenteritis [2, 3]
C. abyssinica is a medicinal plant which has been used in the management of diarrhea in the central part of Ethiopia, that is, Fiche and Ankober districts [14, 17, 18] without scientific proof for safety and efficacy. us, investigating the safety and efficacy of this plant in the animal model could give valuable information in this regard. e findings of this research can be used as an input in searching for a new antidiarrheal agent that might solve problems associated with conventional drugs
Fresh roots of C. abyssinica were collected from Libo Kemkem district, South Gondar Zone, Amhara region, northwest of Addis Ababa on the 16th of November 2018. e plant was authenticated by a Botanist (Mr Abiyu Eniyew Molla) in the Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, the University of Gondar where a specimen was deposited for future reference with voucher number 001DZG
Summary
Diarrhea is a symptom of disease marked by rapid and frequent passage of semisolid or liquid fecal materials through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) along with increased motility and secretions of GIT and decreased fluid absorption [1]. E high incidence of diarrhea in developing countries coupled with the limitations of conventional antidiarrheal drugs and poor healthcare coverage may make traditional medicines good alternatives for the management of diarrhea [6]. Traditional healers have been using numerous medicinal plants for the management of diarrheal diseases. C. abyssinica is one of the medicinal plants being used in traditional medicine. Clutia pulchella [10], Clutia lanceolata [11], and Clutia hirsute are medicinal plants possessing antidiarrheal activity. C. abyssinica is a medicinal plant which has been used in the management of diarrhea in the central part of Ethiopia, that is, Fiche and Ankober districts [14, 17, 18] without scientific proof for safety and efficacy. C. abyssinica is a medicinal plant which has been used in the management of diarrhea in the central part of Ethiopia, that is, Fiche and Ankober districts [14, 17, 18] without scientific proof for safety and efficacy. us, investigating the safety and efficacy of this plant in the animal model could give valuable information in this regard. e findings of this research can be used as an input in searching for a new antidiarrheal agent that might solve problems associated with conventional drugs
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