Effects of Crinum jagus Water/Ethanol Extract on Shigella flexneri-Induced Diarrhea in Rats

Diarrheal disease, characterized by the release of more than three loose or liquid stools per day, remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children below 5 years of age in developing countries. Many drugs used in diarrhea management face contraindication and, with regard to infectious diarrhea, resistance of some bacterial strains; this therefore increases the need of new alternative and more effective drugs. This study aimed to evaluate anti-Shigella flexneri activities of Crinum jagus water/ethanol extract. In vitro activities were assayed by disc diffusion and agar dilution methods and in vivo section on Shigella flexneri-induced diarrhea in rats. This was done by oral administration of 9 X 108 CFU of Shigella flexneri to rats that were treated twice daily with Crinum jagus water/ethanol extract for seven consecutive days. Ciprofloxacin was used as positive control. Daily Shigella flexneri load was evaluated. After one treatment week, animals were then sacrificed and interleukins (IL-2 and INF-γ), immunoglobulins (IgA and IgM), motilin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and ions (sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride) levels were determined. Also, blood cell count was realized. Crinum jagus water/ethanol extract dose-dependently inhibited Shigella flexneri growth with inhibition diameter of 18.90 and 25.36 mm, respectively, at 0.39 and 200 mg/mL. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 0.10 mg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was 0.30 mg/mL with MBC/MIC ratio of 3.0. In Shigella flexneri-induced diarrheic rats, Crinum jagus reduced (p<0.01) diarrheal stools emission and Shigella load and lowered IL-2, INF-γ, IgA, IgM, and motilin blood levels, whereas it increased (p<0.01) vasoactive intestinal peptide, sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride blood levels. In diarrheal rats, Crinum jagus restored the decreasing white blood cells and haemoglobin and restored the damaged colon epithelium, where it reduced the density of mucus-filled goblet cells. These results confirm the use of Crinum jagus in ethnomedicine in diarrhea treatment

Effect of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Bixa orellana Linn (Bixaceae) Leaves on Castor Oil-Induced Diarrhea in Swiss Albino Mice

Objective. The treatment of diarrheal diseases is a serious problem in developing countries, where population generally uses medicinal plants. The leaves of Bixa orellana have been reported to be traditionally used in the treatment of diarrhea by local people in the district of Khulna in Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the hydroethanolic extract of Bixa orellana leaves on castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. Methods. The powder of the leaves of Bixa orellana was macerated in ethanol/water mixture (20/80) for 48 hours and then filtered. The filtrate obtained was lyophilized, and the solutions to be administered to the animals were prepared. To induce diarrhea, animals orally received castor oil (1 mL/100 g bw). To determine the effective doses, each mouse received, 30 minutes after the administration of castor oil, one of the single oral doses of hydroethanolic extract of Bixa orellana leaves: 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw. The mass, number, and frequency of stool diarrhea were measured and recorded per hour for five hours. The effect of the hydroethanolic extract of Bixa orellana leaves on the intestinal transit was evaluated by measuring the distance traveled by the charcoal meal in thirty minutes. The effects of the aqueous extract of hydroethanolic extract of Bixa orellana leaves on intestinal secretion were evaluated by measuring the volume of the intestinal content and by dosing the electrolytes (Na+, K+, and Cl-) in the intestinal content by the colorimetric method. Results. The extract produced significant (P<0.01) decreases, respectively, 35.52%, 54.47%, 74.80%, and 87.80% in the severity of diarrhea. The extract at 100 and 200 mg/kg bw showed a significant (P<0.01) decrease of castor oil-induced enteropooling (61.08% and 65.41%), and only the 200 mg/kg bw exhibited significant (P<0.01) reduction on intestinal transit (24.46%) as compared to standard drug. Conclusions. The hydroethanolic extract was found to be effective against castor oil-induced diarrhea in experimental mice at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw which provides evidence that could justify its traditional use

In vitro antispasmodic effects of Mallotus oppositifolium leaves extracts

International audienceMallotus oppositifolium is a plant traditionally used in many African countries to treat diarrhea and other gastrointestinal tract disorders. This study was undertaken to evaluate in vitro antispasmodic effects of decoction, hexane and methanolic leaves extracts of this plant. Antispasmodic activities of Mallotus oppositifolium leaves decoction, hexane and methanolic extracts were assessed on spontaneous contractions, on acetylcholine or potassium chloride (KCl) induced contractions of isolated rat duodenum strips. Mallotus oppositifolium decoction, hexane or methanolic extracts increasing cumulative concentrations relaxed duodenum strips and at 1 mg/mL, they respectively decreased contraction amplitudes by 77.84 ± 2.25, 55.81 ± 2.14, and 51.67 ± 0.95% compared to the initial values. Decoction, hexane, and methanolic extracts decreased contraction tensions respectively from 3.00 to 2.5 gF, 3.40 to 2.80 gF and from 3.10 to 2.50 gF. At 0.25 mg/mL, they significantly (p <0.05) decreased contraction tension. Emax were 186.89 ± 34.05, 116.30 ± 10.92 and 91.57 ± 4.70% respectively with decoction, methanolic, and hexane extracts with EC50 of 0.610 ± 0.184; 0.146 ± 0.011 and 0.237 ± 0.105 mg/mL (p <0.05). Acetylcholine increased contraction amplitudes. Cumulative administration of Mallotus oppositifolium decoction at 0.05 to 2.00 mg/mL significantly (p <0.05) decreased tension, from 4.00 to 2.60 g.F. At these concentrations, tension variation was concentration-dependent, it increased from 13.39 ± 1.72 to 77.59 ± 1.10%. EC50 and Emax were respectively 1.311 ± 0.340 mg/mL and 99.29 ± 24.80%. KCl produced only little variations of contractions amplitude. Emax was 0.65%. Cumulative administration of Mallotus oppositifolium decoction from 0.05 to 2.00 mg/mL significantly (p <0.05) decreased KCl induced contraction tension, from 3.70 to 2.30 gF (p <0.05). Emax was 133.30 ± 34.29% and EC50 = 2.140 ± 0.231 mg/mL. The antispasmodic effects of Mallotus oppositifolium extracts obtained in this study could therefore justify its traditional use against gastrointestinal tract ailments. Keywords: mallotus oppositifolium; acetylcholine; potassium chloride; antispasmodic effects; gastrointestinal tract disorders

Effects of Cola anomala (K. Schum.) water/ethanol pods extract on the inflammation and intestinal secretion in lipopolysaccharide-induced diarrhea

Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of death among children in low and low-middle income countries and the management of this pathology is still a problem in these regions. The water/ethanol extract of the pods of Cola anomala (KEO) has been shown to possess antimicrobial and antidiarrheal effects in Shigella flexneri-induced diarrhea, but whether KEO is active on the toxemic part of this diarrhea is unknown. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of KEO on the intestinal secretion and inflammation induced by intraperitoneal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). KEO obtained by maceration in water/ethanol (1:1) was administered orally (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg of body weight) against LPS-induced diarrhea in mice. The mass of feces, the intestinal nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PGE2) contents as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were assessed. KEO was also tested on LPS-induced enteropooling in rats. In this experiment, the intestinal fluid and its electrolytes (Na+, K+ and Cl-) contents were determined as well as NO, PGE2, TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the small intestine homogenate. Indomethacin (5 mg/kg) was used as reference drug. KEO significantly (p &lt; 0.001) reduced stools excretion, NO content and MPO activity in intestine but did not affect PGE2 in LPS-induced diarrhea. On the enteropooling model, KEO showed no effect on the intestinal fluid and electrolyte excretion, PGE2, TNF-α and IL-1β contents, but significantly (p &lt; 0.05) reduced the NO production. This study suggests that KEO does not have antisecretory effect, but has anti inflammatory activities. It can be concluded that the anti-toxemic effect of KEO contributes less to its antidiarrheal activity in infectious diarrhea

Mimosa pudica leaf aqueous extract attenuates experimental ulcerative colitis in rats via suppression of MPO and IL-1β signaling pathways and improvement of the oxidative status

Background: Colitis for so many years had been considered a disease exclusive only to developed countries; surprisingly, its incidence is now increasing worldwide. This study investigated Mimosa pudica leaf water extract anti-colitis potential on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Methods: Following 24 h fasting, 36 rats (both sexes) intrarectally received acetic acid (4%, 1 mL) to induce colitis. Afterward, they were separated into groups and treated twice a day (for 9 days) with distilled water; Mimosa pudica (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg); and Prednisolone (5 mg/kg). Body weight and quantity of feces were recorded. On day 9, animals were sacrificed, colon ulcerations number and weight/length ratio; GSH and MDA levels; MPO activity, and IL-1β were determined. Results: Colitis caused a significant drop in animals’ body weight - 30% decrease in colitis control against + 27% increase in the neutral control rats. Mimosa pudica at 25 mg/kg on day 9 brought a + 7% increase. Colitis led to an increase in the weight of feces in colitis rats with 14.28 ± 0.98 g (day 8). On this same day, the extract reduced feces weight (4.42 ± 0.31 g at 100 mg/kg), the number of colon ulcerations, and the mean colon weight/length ratio (P < 0.001). Colitis conditions increased MDA and decreased GSH. Mimosa pudica reversed these biomarkers. Colitis caused a marked increase in MPO activity and IL-1β concentration in colitis rats. This was reversed by the extract. Conclusions: Overall, our results proved the beneficial effects of Mimosa pudica leaf extract in protecting animals against colitis

Anxiolytic and anti-colitis effects of Moringa oleifera leaf-aqueous extract on acetic acid-induced colon inflammation in rat

Moringa oleifera decoction is believed to alleviate gastrointestinal tract diseases. This study investigated antioxidant and anxiolytic activities of its leaves aqueous extract on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Rats (36) were randomly divided into six groups and received (20 days) distilled water, 10 mL/kg; Moringa oleifera leaf-aqueous extract (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) or Loperamide (5 mg/kg). On days 1, 8, 17, and 20, behavioral parameters were evaluated. Colitis was induced (day 15, except in normal group) through acetic acid (4%, 1 mL) intra-rectal administration. After sacrifice (day 21), lesion number, weight/length ratio of the colon were recorded. Oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated. On day 20, Moringa oleifera (100 mg/kg) reduced the number of head dipping and the duration in opened arms, respectively 2.00 ± 0.37 and 5.00 ± 0.37 s against 14.50 ± 0.72 and 2.17 ± 0.48 s in the control. It decreased colon weight/length ratio: 112.29 ± 9.46 against 185.93 ± 5.28 mg/cm in the control; malondialdehyde level (P < 0.01) and nitric oxide concentration (P < 0.001), in the brain: respectively 25.60 ± 0.60 and 36.34 ± 1.19 against 34.00 ± 0.33 and 46.17 ± 3.25 µmol/mg of tissue in the control. In the serum, the extract (50 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the catalase activity (0.10 ± 0.00 against 0.03 ± 0.00 µmol/mg of protein in the negative control group). At 100 mg/kg, it increased (P < 0.001) reduced glutathione concentration to 5.07 ± 0.31 against 3.26 ± 0.08 µmol/mg of protein in the negative control group. The improvement on colitis pathophysiology, the antioxidant and the anxiolytic effects noted therefore suggest that Moringa oleifera can be a potential source of drugs alleviating anxiety and oxidative stress associated to ulcerative colitis