Abstract
Context: Diarrhea, a major leading cause of death among under-five children in developing countries is still ravaging the society today due to limitations associated with conventional treatment approaches. The leaf of Rauwofia vomitoria (R. vomitoria) is used by the locals in Nigeria for the treatment of diarrhea. Aim: This study evaluated the anti-diarrheal activity of the leaf extract and fractions of R. vomitoria using animal models. Methods: Phytochemical screening of the extract was carried out. The extracts and fractions of R. vomitoria were screened using castor-oil induced diarrhea, castor-oil induced enteropooling, charcoal meal test and ex-vivo anti-spasmomodic models. The tests groups received 400 mg/kg of the extract, n-hexane, ethyl acetate and water fractions based on the result of preliminary study. The Negative control (5 ml/kg of 5% Tween-80) and Positive control (Loperamide, 2 mg/kg and atropine sulphate, 10 mg/kg) were used. Ex-vivo anti-spasmodic test was carried out using isolated guinea pig ileum. Results: Phytochemical test revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycoside, terpenoids and steroids. In castor oil-induced diarrhea model, 400 mg/kg of the extract and fractions significantly (p≤0.05) prolonged diarrhea onset, decreased frequency of defecation, weight of feces, and volume of intestinal content. The extract and n-hexane fraction produced more significant (p<0.05) antidiarrheal activity in castor oil –induced enteropooling and charcoal meal test models. The extract exhibited a dose dependent inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction of isolated ileum. Conclusion: Results obtained from this study validate the folkloric use of R. vomitoria leaf extract in the treatment of diarrhea.
Highlights
In Nigeria and other developing countries, diarrhea remains the second-leading cause of death in children younger than five years of age [1, 2]
The present study evaluated the antidiarrheal activity of the ethanol leaf extract and fractions of R vomitoria using castor-oil induced diarrhea, castor-oil induced enteropooling, charcoal meal test and ex-vivo anti-spasmolytic models
From the in-vivo antidiarrheal models, the extract and fractions produced significant reduction on total number and weight of wet stools as well as delay in onset of castor oil-induced diarrhea. This suggests that the extract and fractions prevent the anti-secretory mechanism of castor oil induces diarrhea due to their active component. This is supported by Ezeigbo et al, [16] who reported that the methanol leaf extract of a R. serpentine, a related specie of R. vomitoria exhibited antidiarrheal activity against castor oil-induced
Summary
In Nigeria and other developing countries, diarrhea remains the second-leading cause of death in children younger than five years of age [1, 2] It is characterized by increased gastrointestinal motility, secretion and decrease in the absorption of fluids and electrolytes [3]. Rauwolfia vomitoria, belonging to the family of Apocynaceae, commonly called Swizzle stick, is widely distributed in different parts of Nigeria and other parts of the world It is widely used for the management and treatment of several disorders such as dysentery, jaundice, snakebites, gastrointestinal disturbances, hypertension among others [8]. An ethnobotanical survey reviewed that the leaf extract of R. vomitoria is used by traditional healers of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State (South-Eastern Nigeria) for the treatment of various stomach disorders including diarrhea. This present study was undertaken to validate the potential of ethanol leaf extract and fractions R. vomitoria using in-vivo and ex-vivo experimental models of diarrheal
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