Abstract
Salacia lehmbachii Loes, is used traditionally in Nigeria for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-ulcer and anti-diarrhoeal activities of the ethanolic leaf extract of S. lehmbachii. The ethanolic leaf extract was evaluated for castor oil-induced diarrhoeal, intestinal transit as well as intestinal fluid accumulation in rats, while indomethacin, water immersion stress-induced and histamine were used for anti-ulcer tests. The extract at the doses used significantly (P<0.05) decreased castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats as judged by a decrease in the number of wet faeces in the extract treated rats. Moreso, the leaf extract inhibited the propulsive movement of intestinal contents. S. lehmbachii also showed a dose-related inhibitory activity on castor oil-induced intestinal fluid accumulation in rats. The leaf extract of S. lehmbachii significantly (P<0.05) reduced the ulcer index in all assays used. The results of the current study support the folkloric usage of S. lehmbachii leaf extract in the management of gastrointestinal disorders in Nigerian herbal traditional medicine. Key words: Salacia lehmbachii, leaves, herbal medicine, antidiarrhoea, antiulcer, rats.
Highlights
Medicinal plants are known to possess a variety of substances and are used in the treatment of many kinds of ailments in traditional medicine
The ethanolic leaf extract was evaluated for castor oil-induced diarrhoeal, intestinal transit as well as intestinal fluid accumulation in rats, while indomethacin, water immersion stress-induced and histamine were used for anti-ulcer tests
The results of the current study support the folkloric usage of S. lehmbachii leaf extract in the management of gastrointestinal disorders in Nigerian herbal traditional medicine
Summary
Medicinal plants are known to possess a variety of substances and are used in the treatment of many kinds of ailments in traditional medicine. The beneficial effects of medicinal plant materials result from the combinations of secondary products present in the plant. These constituents are capable of producing definite physiological action on the human body (Erdogrul, 2002). Natural products from plant materials are being continuously used to treat different diseases. Investigation of natural and synthetic compounds has been the source of many therapeutic agents (Mahesh and Satish, 2008).
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