Effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Tridax procumbens leaves on gastrointestinal motility and castor oil-induced diarrhoea in wistar rats

The antidiarrheal as well as the phytochemical properties of the aqueous and ethanolic leave extract of Tridax procumbens was carried out in this study. Forty (40) albino Wistar rats weighing between 150 and 200 g were purchased for used. The 40 rats were divided into two sets for the different experiments. The animals were acclimatized to room temperature (28\ub15 \ub0C) in a standard wire meshed plastic cages for 7 days prior to commencement of the experiment. During the entire period of study the animals were supplied with standard pellet diet and water ad libitum. Phytochemical studies carried out on aqueous and ethanol extract of Tridax procumbens leaves revealed the presence of twelve bioactive compounds which are alkaloid, saponin, phenol, tannin, flavonoid, cardiac glycoside, steroid, phytosterol, triterpenoid and phlobatannin. Tannins, phenols, phytosterol, triterpenoids and phlobatannins were detected in trace amount for the aqueous extract compared to the ethanol extract. Both aqueous and ethanol leave extracts of Tridax procumbens showed significant (p<0.05) antidiarrheal activity on gastrointestinal motility with barium sulfate milk model, while with the castor oil-induced diarrheal model, the aqueous extract showed no significant reduction (p>0.05) in the number of stool (wet feces) for 2h when compared with Lomotil drug (standard group). However, there was statistical significant difference (p<0.05) in wet stool for the ethanol extract. These result obtained revealed that the leaf extract might possess some pharmacological antidiarrheal activity and this may possibly explain the use of the plant in traditional medicine

Arjunolic acid counteracts fluoxetine-induced reproductive neuroendocrine dysfunction through inhibition of chromosomal derangements and hypercortisolism

Antidepression-related HPA-HPG alteration is gaining more attention in stress research on humans and animals with depression. Therefore, the search for therapeutic drugs such as Arjunolic acid (AA) might be a core value in the management of reproductive neuro-endocrine dysfuction in rats treated with FXT. In this context, this study aimed to determine the effects of AA on reproductive neuro-endocrine functions in fluoxetine (FXT)-induced HPA-HPG axis dysfunction in rats. The subjects were randomly divided into 6 groups with six (6) rats each after 14 days of acclimatization. Rats in group 1 received normal saline (10 mL/kg); groups 2 & 3 were respectively given AA (1.0 mg/100gm body weight) and AA (2.0 mg/100gm body weight), whereas rats in group 4 were given FXT (10 mg/kg/p.o./day), and groups 5 & 6 were respectively given a combination of FXT (10 mg/kg) + AA (1.0 mg/100g body weight) and of FXT (10 mg/kg) + AA (2.0 mg/100g body weight). The results revealed that FXT altered reproductive neuro-endocrine function as evidenced by increased corticosterone, tDFI, tCSA, and abnormal sperm morphology; with corresponding decreases in Kisspeptin, GnRH, LH, FSH, testosterone, HOST value, TP, Sialic acid, Johnson score, sperm count, motility, and viability. However, AA dose dependently significantly counteracted the FXT-elicited changes in corticosterone, tDFI, tCSA and abnormal sperm morphology as well as Kisspeptin, GnRH, LH, FSH, testosterone, HOST value, TP, Sialic acid, Johnson score, sperm count, motility, and viability; and improved the body and testicular weight in rats. In conclusion, AA attenuates fluoxetine-induced reproductive neuroendocrine dysfunction through inhibition of chromosomal derangements and hypercortisolism. However, co-administration of FXT with AA could be a better therapeutic option in the management of FXT-induced altered HPA-HPG-axis