Abstract
BackgroundMyrtus communis L. has a folkloric repute for the management of diarrhea and dysentery in different parts of the world. However, the safety and efficacy of the leaf extract have not been scientifically validated in animal model. This study was, therefore, aimed to investigate the antidiarrheal effect of 80% methanol extract (80ME) and solvent fractions of the leaves of Myrtus communis L. in mice.MethodsThe antidiarrheal activity of the 80ME and solvent fractions was evaluated against castor oil induced diarrheal model, charcoal meal and enteropooling tests. For the 80%ME, the test groups received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract. In case of fractions, the test groups received various doses of fractions (200, 300, 400 mg/kg and an additional dose of 800 mg/kg for the aqueous fraction (AF)), where as negative controls received the vehicle (10 ml/kg) and positive controls received loperamide (3 mg/kg).ResultsThe 80ME at 200 mg/kg (p < 0.05) & 400 mg/kg (p < 0.01) as well as the chloroform fraction (CF) and methanol fraction (MF) at 400 mg/kg (p < 0.05) significantly delayed the onset of diarrhea. Besides, the 80ME (at all tested doses) and both of these fractions (at 300 & 400 mg/kg) significantly decreased the frequency and weight of fecal outputs. Results from the charcoal meal test revealed that the 80ME, at all doses, (p < 0.001) as well as the CF and MF at 300 mg/kg (p < 0.05) & 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001) produced a significant anti-motility effect. Similarly, in the entero-pooling test, the 80ME (at all tested doses) (p < 0.01) as well as the CF and MF (at 300 & 400 mg/kg, p < 0.05) produced a significant decline in the weight and volume of intestinal contents, whereas the AF revealed significant effect (p < 0.05) at dose of 800 mg/kg only.ConclusionThe study demonstrated that the 80ME and solvent fractions contain bioactive constituents that have antidiarrheal activity. Therefore, this study provides a scientific support for the acclaimed traditional use of Myrtus communis L for the treatment of diarrheal diseases.
Highlights
Myrtus communis L. has a folkloric repute for the management of diarrhea and dysentery in different parts of the world
Drugs and chemicals used in the study include: castor oil (Amman Pharmaceutical Industries, Jordan), activated charcoal (Acuro Organics Ltd, New Delhi, India), Loperamide (Daehwa Pharmaceuticals, Republic of Korea), distilled water (Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Factory, Epharm, Ethiopia), Tweens 80 (Atlas Chemical Industries Inc, India), chloroform (Hi-Media Laboratory Reagents, India), absolute methanol (Carlo Erba reagents, S.A.S., France), glacial acetic acid (BDH Laboratory Supplies Poole, England), sulfuric acid (BDH Laboratory Supplies Poole, England), ammonia(BDH Limited poole, England), hydrochloric acid(BDH Laboratory Supplies Poole, England), acetic anhydride (May and Baker LTD Dagenham, England), ferric chloride (BDH Laboratory Supplies Poole, England), Mayer’s and Dragendorff ’s reagents(May and Baker LTD Dagenham, England)
Effects on castor oil induced diarrheal model In the Castor oil (CO)-induced diarrheal model, the 80% methanol extract (80ME) of Myrtus communis leaf significantly prolonged the onset of diarrhea and reduced the frequency and weight of fecal outputs at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg as compared to the control
Summary
Myrtus communis L. has a folkloric repute for the management of diarrhea and dysentery in different parts of the world. This study was, aimed to investigate the antidiarrheal effect of 80% methanol extract (80ME) and solvent fractions of the leaves of Myrtus communis L. in mice. In Ethiopia, it has several vernacular names such as Ades (Amharic, Guragegna, Tigregna); Haddus (hararegna), Addisaa, coddoo (Afan Oromo) [9] It is one of the most important drugs being used in Unani system of medicine since ancient Greece. It is a well-known shrub for its therapeutic, cosmetic and food uses [8]. It has been frequently used for various ailments like gastric ulcer, diarrhea, dysentery and rheumatism [8]
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