Abstract
Background: The folkloric use of Cochlospermum planchonii is yet to be substantiated with scientific evidence. Aim: The aqueous extract of C. planchonii leaves was evaluated for anti-diarrhoeal activity at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight in female Wistar rats. Setting: This research is a phytopharmacological investigation. Methods: Animal were monitored for indicators of diarrhoea in the 3 models after treatments. Results: An aqueous extract of C. planchonii leaves contained 10 secondary metabolites, with alkaloids (16.05 mg/L) occurring the most, whilst quinones (0.7 mg/L) were the least. The extract significantly ( p < 0.05) prolonged the onset time of diarrhoea, decreased water content, fresh weight and total number of wet faeces in a dose-dependent manner, and increased the percentage inhibition of defecation. The extract produced dose-specific changes on intestinal superoxide dismutase, glucose and reduced glutathione whereas the levels of intestinal Na + /K + -ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, catalase, nitric oxide were significantly ( p < 0.05) increased in the castor oil-induced diarrhoeal model. The masses and volumes of intestinal fluid decreased significantly ( p < 0.05) whereas the inhibition of intestinal fluid content increased like those of atropine-treated diarrhoeal rats in the enteropooling model. The extract dose-dependently decreased the distance travelled by the charcoal meal and increased the intestinal nitric oxide and acetylcholinesterase in the charcoal meal transit model. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of C. planchonii leaves exhibited anti-diarrhoeal activity via anti-motility and anti-secretory means. The flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenolics and saponins might have acted to enhance the activities of Na + /K + -ATPase, antioxidant enzymes, intestinal glucose levels and the neurotransmitters.
Highlights
Diarrhoea is a gastrointestinal condition caused by bacteria, virus and parasitic organisms (Peter & Umar 2018)
The concentration of intestinal glucose was reduced by the 125 mg/kg body weight of the extract whereas the 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight of the extract produced intestinal glucose levels that compared favourably (p < 0.05) with that of non-diarrhoeal, distilled water-treated rats
The loperamide-treated diarrhoeal rats produced a significantly higher level of intestinal glucose when compared with the non-diarrhoeal, distilled watertreated, control female rats
Summary
Diarrhoea is a gastrointestinal condition caused by bacteria, virus and parasitic organisms (Peter & Umar 2018). It is characterised by increased intestinal motility, secretion and/or a decrease in the reabsorption of fluid and electrolytes (Ezeja et al 2012). Several orthodox medicines which have been developed for the treatment of diarrhoea are associated with some complications such as constipation, nausea, emesis and fatigue. There is the need to explore medicinal plants that pose little or no side effects. The folkloric use of Cochlospermum planchonii is yet to be substantiated with scientific evidence
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