Crude Fibre Determination of Malva sylvestris L. and Evaluation of its Faecal Bulking and Laxative Properties in Rats

Francesca Busuttil-Griffin,Everaldo Attard,Lilian M Azzopardi,Claire Shoemake

doi:10.5539/ijb.v7n4p1

Abstract

Malva sylvestris L. or as it is widely known, the common mallow, is a renowned medicinal plant which can be found growing in abundance in Europe, North Africa and Asia. The percentage crude fibre content present in M. sylvestris samples collected from Malta was studied. Variation in crude fibre content with time and location was also considered in this study. Results showed that the percentage stem fibre content (27.61%) significantly (p<0.001) supersedes the percentage content in leaves (6.49%). These values confirm results attained by various authors in similar studies. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the down trending in percentage leaf fibre content observed over the 3-month study period was only statistically significant (p<0.01) for one locality (N=4). In the latter, a significant (p<0.01) dip in fibre content was noted for samples collected in April. Conversely, the percentage stem fibre content increased as the plant matured. This observed increase in stem fibre was statistically significant (p<0.05) for two of the localities (N=4) studied. The faecal bulking competency of this fibrous plant was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Throughout the study, the control group was fed fibre-free pellets. Whilst the test group, was fed pellets containing 100 g/kg M. sylvestris ground stems. An increase in faecal weight by 105% and 86% was observed in the test group when compared to the fresh and dry faecal weights of the control group. These findings confirm faecal bulking properties and support the potential use of this plant species as a complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of constipation.

Highlights

1.1 Use of Plants as Complementary and Alternative MedicineThe medicinal value of plants has been recognized worldwide for thousands of years (Brown, 1995; Chevallier, 1996; J. Barnes, Anderson, & Phillipson, 2007)
The percentage crude fibre content was determined using the equation presented in section 2.1 and the data generated were computed and tested for significance using One-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-hoc test (XLSTAT 2014.4.04, Addinsoft Inc.)
The average percentage fibre content present in leaf samples of the local M. sylvestris collected over a period of three months (February – April) from four different locations was compared and found to be higher than values obtained in a similar study by Tabaraki, Yosefi, and Gharneh (2012)

Summary

Introduction

1.1 Use of Plants as Complementary and Alternative MedicineThe medicinal value of plants has been recognized worldwide for thousands of years (Brown, 1995; Chevallier, 1996; J. Barnes, Anderson, & Phillipson, 2007). 1.1 Use of Plants as Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Barnes, Anderson, & Phillipson, 2007). The medicinal value of plants has been recognized worldwide for thousands of years Their use in treating ailments is the earliest form of healthcare known to us (Kunle, Egharevba, & Ahmadu, 2012) and it is currently estimated that more than 100 million Europeans make use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which encompasses phytotherapy (European Information Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine [EICCAM], 2008; World Health Organization [WHO], 2013). M. Barnes & Bloom, 2008; WHO, 2013), with up to 80% of the population in low and middle income countries depending on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs (WHO, 2004; Tiwari, 2008)

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