Evaluation of the Anti-diarrheal Activity of 80% Methanol Extract and Solvent Fractions of the leaves of Lantana camara Linn (Verbenaceae) in Mice
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Date
2015-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Lantana camara L. is one of the medicinal plants traditionally used for the treatment
of diarrhea in Ethiopia. Although the antidiarrheal activity of the crude extract of the
leaves of this plant was evaluated elsewhere, no work has been performed in the
Ethiopian plant. The aim of this study was therefore to further confirm the
antidiarrheal activity of 80% methanol extract and fully evaluate the solvent fractions
using mice model of diarrhea. The 80% methanol extract was prepared by maceration
and the fractions were obtained by successive soxhlet extraction with chloroform and
methanol followed by maceration of the marc with water. The antidiarrheal activity of
the extract and fractions were investigated using castor oil induced diarrhea (for 80%
methanol extract), enteropooling and small intestine transit models (the three models
for the fractions). The test groups received various doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) of
the extract or fractions, whereas positive controls received Loperamide (3 mg/kg) and
negative controls received vehicle (2% tween 80 or distilled water, 10 ml/kg). In the
castor oil induced diarrheal model, the 80% methanol extract delayed onset of
defecation, at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, and reduced the number and weight of feces
at all tested doses significantly as compared to the negative control. In this model the
methanol and aqueous fraction at all tested doses and chloroform fraction at 200
mg/kg and 400 mg/kg significantly reduced the number and weight of wet feces when
compared with negative control. In the enteropooling test, the methanol and aqueous
fractions significantly reduced the weight and volume of intestinal fluid at all tested
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doses, whereas the chloroform fraction significantly reduced the weight of intestinal
content only at 400 mg/kg when compared to negative control. Results from the
charcoal meal test revealed that all the fractions produced a significant anti-motility
effect at all tested doses as compared to negative control. This study confirmed the
antidiarrheal activity of the crude extract and further revealed all the three fractions
possessed varying degree of antidiarrheal activity, with the methanol fraction being
the most active fraction in all the three models.
Key words: antidiarrheal activity, castor oil induced diarrhea, anti-enteropooling
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Keywords
Antidiarrheal activity; Castor oil induced diarrhea; Anti-enteropooling