Antidiarrheal Activity of Crude Extract and Coumarins from Psydrax schim- periana (A. Rich.) Bridson. Roots in Swiss Albino Mice, and Evaluation of Nu- tritional Composition and Anti-nutritional Factors of Its Fruits
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Date
2023
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Despite considerable improvements in the accessibility of medical services, diarrheal illnesses
continue to claim the lives of children, accounting for up to 9% of all pediatric fatalities world-
wide. The roots of Psydrax schimperiana is traditionally used to treat diarrhea and its fruits are
consumed for nutritional purposes in Ethiopia. This study aimed to investigate in vivo antidiar-
rheal activity of crude extract and coumarins isolated from the roots of P. schimperiana to pro-
vide a pharmacological basis for its traditional use as diarrhea agent and to evaluate the nutri-
tional composition and anti-nutritional factors from its fruits.
Maceration with 80% methanol was used to prepare the crude extract from the powdered roots of
P. schimperiana. The crude roots extract of P. schimperiana was tested for in vivo antidiarrheal
efficacy in mice utilizing castor oil-induced diarrhea, gastrointestinal transit time and enteropool-
ing models at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg. Phytochemical investigation of the crude roots
extract led to the isolation of two coumarins, isoscopoletin and scoparone. The structures of these
compounds were established by interpretation of their spectral data, and by comparison with data
reported in the literature. Isoscopoletin and scoparone were evaluated for antidiarrheal activity
against castor oil-induced diarrhea model at 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg doses.
Moisture content, ash value, crude protein, crude fibers, crude fat, phytate, tannin, and oxalate
contents of P. schimperiana fruits were determined according to the standard analytical proce-
dure. All generated data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26.
The crude root extract of P. schimperiana, at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, inhibited defe-
cation by 37.5%, 46.2%, and 61.2%, respectively. At a dose of 20 mg/kg, scoparone and isosco-
poletin reduced defecation by 61.2% and 66.6%, respectively.
ii
Fruits from P. schimperiana contained 31% fiber, 9.19% crude protein, 12.40% moisture, 6.38%
ash, and 0.99% fat. The fruits also contained the anti-nutritional factors phytate (1.16%), oxalate
(0.72%), and tannin (22.96%). The study provides a scientific basis for further development and
usage of the roots of P. schimperiana, and warrants continued investigation of isoscopoletin and
scoparone toward development as a novel treatment for diarrheal diseases. The fruits of P.
schimperiana can be considered as a beneficial source of vital nutrients such as carbohydrate,
protein, and crude fibers. However, the higher tannin content may interfere with the absorption
of essential minerals and inhibit effective utilization of proteins
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Keywords
Antidiarrheal activity, Traditional medicine, Psydrax schimperiana, Isoscopoletin, Scoparone, proximate analysis, antinutritional factors