The antidiarrhoeal property of the methanolic stem bark extract of Vitellaria paradoxa was studied in mice. The assessment parameters included, castor oil induced diarrhoea, intestinal transit time, enteropooling. The antidiarrhoeal evaluation of the extract showed that it significantly reduced castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice dose dependently (100-400 mg/kg). The methanolic extract of Vitellaria paradoxa significantly (p&lt;0.05) increased intestinal transit time of charcoal in mice dose dependently. The extract was also observed to reduce the castor oil induced enteropooling in mice. Vitellaria paradoxa methanol stem bark extract may possess antidiarrhoeal property. Key words: Antidiarrhoeal, Castor-oil, Enteropooling, Transit time, Vitellaria paradoxa

E.U, Etuk

K., Abubakar

P.O, Famoriyo

R., Abdulkadir

English

International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals

Advances in Life Science and Technology                                                                                                 www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7181 (Paper) ISSN 2225-062X (Online) Vol.15, 2013  1 Evaluation of the antidiarrhoeal effect of Vitellaria paradoxa  Gaertn F (Sapotaceae) stem bark extract Abubakar K. (Corresponding author) Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodio University. Sokoto. P.M.B 2346, Sokoto,  Nigeria Tel: +2348035863780, +2348089859161.   E mail : kabirsultan2002@gmail.com  Abdulkadir R.* Department of Pharmacy, National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna. P.M.B 2438, Kaduna, Nigeria Tel: +2348023060545.    E mail:ramatuabdulkadir@yahoo.com  Etuk E.U Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodio University. Sokoto. P.M.B 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria  Tel: +2348054693770    E mail: etuk2005@yahoo.co.uk  Famoriyo P.O Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodio University. Sokoto. P.M.B 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria TEL: +2348030769890   E mail: famorpat@yahoo.com ABSTRACT The antidiarrhoeal property of the methanolic stem bark extract of Vitellaria paradoxa was studied in mice. The assessment parameters included, castor oil induced diarrhoea, intestinal transit time, enteropooling. The antidiarrhoeal evaluation of the extract showed that it significantly reduced castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice dose dependently (100-400 mg/kg). The methanolic extract of Vitellaria paradoxa significantly (p<0.05) increased intestinal transit time of charcoal in mice dose dependently. The extract was also observed to reduce the castor oil induced enteropooling in mice. Vitellaria paradoxa methanol stem bark extract may possess antidiarrhoeal property. Key words: Antidiarrhoeal, Castor-oil, Enteropooling, Transit time, Vitellaria paradoxa. 1.0    INTRODUCTION  Diarrhoea is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in children, especially under the age of 5 years, in Nigeria and other third world countries. Diarrhoea takes a heavy toll in Nigeria which ranked second with annual infant mortality of 151,700 (UNICEF/WHO, 2009). Each year, some 20 million children suffer an average of 3.5 episodes of diarrhoea. After acute respiratory infections, it is the second leading cause of death among children (Alam et al., 2001). In Nigeria 198 out of a 1,000 children die before they celebrate their 5th birthday, about 5-8 million deaths each year in infants and children below 5 years old are caused by diarrhoea worldwide. The need for newer, more effective, and less expensive antidiarrhoeal drugs has become a paramount issue to tackle this present situation. A number of Nigerian medicinal plants have been used by traditional healers to treat diarrhoea and related complications. However, the effectiveness of many of these antidiarrhoeal traditional medicines has not been scientifically evaluated. Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn F of the family sapotaceae is widely distributed in the West African sub-region. The plant is used to treat inflammation, rashes in children, dermatitis, chapping, irritation, ulcer and rheumatism. Leaf decoctions of Vitellaria paradoxa are used for the treatment of stomach ache, head ache and as an eye lotion. The paste of the root bark is taken orally to cure jaundice as well as diarrhoea and stomach ache in humans and applied topically to treat chronic sores and girth sores in horses (Mallogo, 1989). Its stem bark decoction is used in a bath to facilitate child birth, encourage lactation after delivery, treatment of leprosy, neutralization of venom of spitting cobra and for gastric problems as well as for diarrhoea and dysentery. Advances in Life Science and Technology                                                                                                 www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7181 (Paper) ISSN 2225-062X (Online) Vol.15, 2013  2 2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 PLANT MATERIAL The stem bark of Vitellaria paradoxa was collected from Zuru in Kebbi state of Nigeria around September 2010 and identified by Mal Muhammad Musa (Ahmadu Bello University; Zaria, Kaduna), and a voucher specimen (NO 900626) was deposited at the herbarium of  Botany unit, Department  Biological sciences, Faculty of science.  Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna.  2.2 Extraction Shade-dried and powdered stem bark of V. paradoxa (560mg) was soxhlet-extracted using methanol. The extract was concentrated by evaporation over water bath to yield a concentrate of ox-blood extract (yield 13.89%). 2.3Drugs and chemicals Atropine sulphate and diphenoxylate (standard reference antidiarrhoeal drugs), castor oil (laxative agent), normal saline solution (0.9% NaCl), charcoal meal (5% activated charcoal in 10% tragacanth) and vehicle (distilled water) were used.  2.4 Animals  Swiss albino mice weighing 16.88 ± 0.18 grams of both sexes were obtained from National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau state, Nigeria. The animals were housed under standard laboratory conditions 12 h light: dark cycle. The animals were fed with standard diet and water ad libitum. 2.5 Effect of Vitellaria paradoxa extract on castor oil-induced diarrhoea The method described by Offiah and Chikwendu (1999) was adopted to study the effect of V. paradoxa extract on castor oil-induced diarrhoea. Mice were weighed and grouped into 5 groups (n = 6). Groups 1, 2 and 3 received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract of V. paradoxa respectively, group 4 and 5 received 5mg/kg of diphenoxylate and 2 ml/kg of normal saline respectively. Each animal was then given 0.2 ml of castor oil orally after 1 hour of treatment and placed in transparent cages to observe for consistency of faecal matter and frequency of defecation for 6 h. Faeces were collected with an absorbent sheet of paper placed beneath the transparent cages. The wet faeces were read at the end of the experiment by lifting up the upper part of the cage containing the sheet of paper and animals. The percent (%) inhibition of defecation was measured using the following formula. % Inhibition of defecation = [(A - B) / A] x 100 A = Mean number of defecation caused by castor oil B = Mean number of defecation caused by drug or extract 2.6 Effect of Vitellaria paradoxa extract on gastrointestinal transit time in mice This was carried out according to the method outlined by Izzo et al (1999) using charcoal meal as a diet marker. The mice were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each. Groups 1, 2 and 3 received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract orally respectively. Group 4 received 3mg/kg of atropine intraperitonially. Group 5 received normal saline intraperitonially. Ten minutes after administration, each animal was given 0.5ml of charcoal meal orally (5% activated charcoal in 10% aqueous solution of tragacanth powder). After 30 min, the mice were sacrificed and the distance covered by the charcoal meal in the intestine, from the pylorus to the caecum was measured and expressed as a percentage of distance moved. 2.7 Effect of Vitellaria paradoxa extract on castor oil-induced intestinal fluid accumulation This method described by Robert et al (1976) was used for the study. The mice were fasted for 12 h but allowed free access to water. The mice were randomised and placed in 5 cages of 6 rats per cage each. Groups 1, 2 and 3 received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract of V. paradoxa orally respectively. Group 4 received atropine Advances in Life Science and Technology                                                                                                 www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7181 (Paper) ISSN 2225-062X (Online) Vol.15, 2013  3 3mg/kg intraperitonially (I.P). Group 5 received 2ml /kg of normal saline. After 1 hour, each mouse was administered 0.2ml of castor oil. The mice were anaesthetised 1h later by inhalation of chloroform. The small intestine from the pylorus to caecum was dissected out and its content expelled into a measuring cylinder to measure the volume of the fluid. 2.8 Statistical analysis Experimental values were expressed as Mean ± SEM. Turkey-Kraimer multiple comparison tests was carried out for statistical comparison. Statistical significance was considered to be indicated by a p value < 0.05 in all cases. 3.0  RESULTS  Table 1: Effects of methanolic extract of Vitellaria paradoxa stem bark on castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. Treatment group Extract dose mg/kg Mean no of defecation Percentage protection (%) Extract + CO Extract + CO Extract + CO Saline + CO Diph + CO 100 200 400 - 5 8.00±0.58 4.83±0.60 1.50±0.55 9.00±0.73 0.00 11.1 46.3 83 0 100 No of defecation expressed as Mean ± SEM, n = 6, F = 60.380, P<0.001 when compared to negative control.  Diph = Diphenoxylate CO = Castor oil  Table 2: Effect of Vitellaria paradoxa on gastrointestinal transit time in mice. Treatment dose (mg/kg) Total length of intestine (cm) Distance travelled by charcoal % intestinal travel time Ext (100) Ext (200) Ext (400) Atp (3) Saline 31.2±0.94 30.4±0.44 30.6±0.51 30.2±0.51 32.7±0.50 19.8±0.72 16.0±1.03 8.90±0.38 4.00±0.21 21.3±0.68 63.4±1.48 52.8±3.98 29.10±1.52 13.4±0.83 67.30±2.90 Data expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6, F=89.725, P<0.01 when compared with control.     Advances in Life Science and Technology                                                                                                 www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7181 (Paper) ISSN 2225-062X (Online) Vol.15, 2013  4 Table 3: Effect of Vitellaria paradoxa extract on castor oil induced enteropooling in mice. Treatment group  Wt of intestinal content (g) % accumulation of intestinal fluid Ext (100mg/kg) +CO Ext (200mg/kg) +CO Ext (400mg/kg) +CO Atp (3mg/kg) Saline +CO 3.13±0.17 1.82±0.13 0.90±0.13 0.87±0.18 4.82±0.39 35.1 62.2 81.3 81.9 0 Weight expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6, F=41.605, P<0.001when compared to negative control. Ext=Extract CO=Castor oil;  Atp =Atropine 4.0  DISCUSSION In the castor oil-induced diarrhoea experiment, the mice group that did not receive the plant extract showed typical diarrhoeal signs and symptoms such as watery and frequent defecation. The methanolic extract of V. paradoxa produced a notable antidiarrhoeal effect in mice (Table 1). All doses of the extract significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the total number of wet faeces produced by administration of castor oil (8.00±0.58 at 100 mg/kg, 4.83±0.60 at 200 mg/kg and 1.5±0.55 at 400mg/kg) as compared to the castor oil-treated control group (9.00 ± 0.73) at sixth hour of observation. The percentage of inhibition of castor oil-induced diarrhoea in the extract-treated mice was 11.1%, 46.3% and 83% respectively, at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. The effect of the extract was similar to that of the standard drug, Diphenoxylate (5 mg/kg), which produced an inhibition of 100% (Table 1). The administration of the extract also slowed down the propulsion of charcoal meal through the gastrointestinal tract when compared to the castor oil-treated mice. The percentage inhibition of intestinal length travelled by charcoal meal in the extract pre-treated mice (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was 63.4±1.48, 52.8±3.98 and 29.10±1.52 respectively, while castor oil-treated mice was 67.30±2.90. Atropine on its part produced a marked decrease in the propulsive movement and the intestinal length travelled by charcoal meal and the percentage inhibition of transit was13.4±0.83 (Table 2).The average weight of faeces in the control group was 4.82 ± 0.39g. Treatment with all doses of the extract significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the volume of faeces to 3.13 ± 0.17g, 1.82±0.13g, and 0.90±0.18g respectively, at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg (Table 3). 5.0 CONCLUSION The extract could have produced its effect by decreased gastrointestinal motility and decreased secretion of fluid and electrolytes.  REFERENCES Alam NH, Faruque AS, Dewan N, Sarker SA, Fuchs GJ (2001). Characteristics of children hospitalized with severe dehydration and persistent diarrhoea in Bangladesh. Journal of Health Population and Nutrition 19: 18-24. Izzo AA, Mascolo N, Capasso R, Germano MP, DePasquel R, Capasso F (1999) Inhibitory effectof cannabinoid agonists on gastric emptying in the rat, Archives of Pharmacology, 360:221-223. Offiah VN, Chikwendu UA (1999). Antidiarrhoea effects of Ocimum gratisimum leaf extract in experimental animal. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 68:327-330. Advances in Life Science and Technology                                                                                                 www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7181 (Paper) ISSN 2225-062X (Online) Vol.15, 2013  5 Robert A, Nezamis JE, Lancaster C, Hanchar AJ, Klepper MS (1976). Entero-pooling assay: a test for diarrhoea produced by prostaglandins. Prostaglandins 11: 809-828. UNICEF and WHO (2009) Diarrhoea: Why children are still dying and what can be done. UNICEF / WHO press.                       This academic article was published by The International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE).  The IISTE is a pioneer in the Open Access Publishing service based in the U.S. and Europe.  The aim of the institute is Accelerating Global Knowledge Sharing.  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Evaluation of the antidiarrhoeal effect of Vitellaria paradoxa  Gaertn F (Sapotaceae) stem bark extract

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Evaluation of the antidiarrhoeal effect of Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn F (Sapotaceae) stem bark extract

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