Abstract
BackgroundTraditionally, Operculina turpethum has been used in a wide range of ailments such as, gastrointestinal disturbances and asthma. It is found in China, South Asia, Pacific Islands, and Australia. This study was aimed to provide a possible pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of O. turpethum in gut and airways disorders.MethodsCastor oil-induced diarrhoeal mice model and isolated tissue preparations such as, rabbit jejunum and guinea-pig tracheal preparations were used to test the antidiarrhoeal, antispasmodic and bronchodilator effects and the possible mode of action(s) of the 70% aqueous-ethanolic extract of O. turpethum black variety (OTB).ResultsIn the castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice, the crude extract of OTB caused a dose-dependent (300–1000 mg/kg) protection from diarrhoea, similar to that of loperamide. In isolated rabbit jejunum preparations, OTB produced a dose-dependent inhibition of spontaneous and high K+(80 mM)-induced contractions with resultant median effective concentrations (EC50 with 95% confidence interval) of 1.04 mg/ml (0.59-1.54) and 0.12 mg/ml (0.10-0.15; n = 4) respectively, thus showing more potency against K+. Pretreatment of the tissue with OTB (0.01 and 0.03 mg/ml) caused a rightward shift in the concentration response curves of Ca++, similar to that of verapamil. In isolated guinea-pig tracheal preparations, OTB caused inhibition of carbachol and high K+-induced constriction at similar concentrations with respective EC50 value of 0.66 mg/ml (0.53-0.82) and 0.59 mg/ml (0.45-0.62). Activity-directed fractionation revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction was more potent than the parent crude extract and hexane fraction.ConclusionThese results suggest that the crude extract of O. turpethum possesses antidiarrhoeal, antispasmodic and bronchodilator activities, mediated possibly through the presence of Ca++ antagonist like constituent(s), though additional mechanism(s) cannot be ruled out. Thus, this study provides the evidence for the medicinal use of plant in diarrhoea and asthma.
Highlights
Operculina turpethum has been used in a wide range of ailments such as, gastrointestinal disturbances and asthma
Blackish brown thick semi-solid extract of O. turpethum black variety (OTB) (46.0 g) was obtained that was first partitioned with ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and distilled water (H2O) by 1:1 ratio; ethyl acetate and water layers were obtained and a portion of crude extract of OTB was treated with n-hexane (Hex), on vigorous shaking it was yielded to reddish brown precipitates
Phytochemical screening Qualitative phytochemical study of the crude extract of OTB showed the presence of tannins, saponins, terpenoids, alkaloids, sugars, glycosides and steroids
Summary
Operculina turpethum has been used in a wide range of ailments such as, gastrointestinal disturbances and asthma. It is found in China, South Asia, Pacific Islands, and Australia. Diarrhea is defined as increased frequency of loose stools often accompanied with abdominal cramps, which affects over 3 billion people causing approximately 5 million deaths annually. Most of the disorders of respiratory system including asthma result from the hyperactivity of airways. The prevalence of airways disorders has been increased globally, in children. The available conventional medicine for the hyperactive airways disorders for asthma is neither cost-effective and nor always be safe, people are looking for the alternative therapeutic measures
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