Abstract
Article history: Diarrhea is a global epidemic. Majority of the populace in developing Countries including Nigeria depend on Napoleona imperialis as a safer, more effective and affordable alternatives for treatment of diarrhea. This study evaluated the antidiarrheal potential of ethanol (leaf) extract and fractions of N. imperialis in Swiss albino mice. Acute toxicity test was performed to determine safe dose range before in vivo experiments. Castor-oil induced diarrhea and charcoal meal gastrointestinal motility test models were used. Antimicrobial activity on bacteria- implicated diarrhea, and HPLC analysis of the aqueous fraction (AF) were also evaluated. The result of the acute toxicity tests show that no death occurred at the test doses. Preliminary antimicrobial screening shows that the inhibitory zone diameter (IZD) of the extract has a weak antibacterial activity against sample organisms. The presence of procyanidin, 9-alpha-OH-pinoresinol, isoprunetin and ellagic acid derivatives in the aqueous fraction were highlighted by the HPLC analysis. The AF produced more significant (P<0.05) decrease in diarrhea than the other groups. This study shows that N. imperialis possesses antidiarrheal activity and hence justifies its folkloric use in the treatment of diarrhea.
Highlights
Diarrhea has been the second leading cause of death among children under the age of five globally (Victoria et al, 2000)
This study evaluated the antidiarrheal potential of ethanol extract and fractions of N. imperialis in Swiss albino mice
This study shows that N. imperialis possesses antidiarrheal activity and justifies its folkloric use in the treatment of diarrhea
Summary
Diarrhea has been the second leading cause of death among children under the age of five globally (Victoria et al, 2000). One in five children dies (about 1.5 million each year) from diarrhea. Napoleona imperialis, (family lecythidaceae) is an indigenous plant used in some Nigerian communities for the treatment of diarrhea, and bacterial infections. We sought for justification for the folkloric use of the leaves of N. imperialis as an antidiarrheal agent. This was done by use of castor-oil induced diarrhea and charcoal meal gastrointestinal motility test models. Positive outcome may result in development of affordable herbal formula for treatment of diarrhea. Very promising results would encourage further research towards identification of pure compounds responsible for any antidiarrheal property observed
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