Anti-diarrhoeal potential of the ethanol extract of Gongronema latifolium leaves in rats

The leaves of Gongronema latifolium is used in Nigeria for the treatment of diarrhoea and thus, the phytochemical constituents as well as the acute toxicity of the ethanol extract of the leaves of G. latifolium and its effects [at graded doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight (b.w)] against cas...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:African journal of biotechnology 2013-07, Vol.12 (27), p.4399-4407
Main Authors: Odo, Christian, E, Enechi, Osmund, C, Eleke, Uzoma
Format: Article
Language:English
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The leaves of Gongronema latifolium is used in Nigeria for the treatment of diarrhoea and thus, the phytochemical constituents as well as the acute toxicity of the ethanol extract of the leaves of G. latifolium and its effects [at graded doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight (b.w)] against castor oil-induced diarrhoea models in rats were evaluated. The parameters used for the evaluation of the castor oil-induced diarrhoea were: reductions in the wetness of faeces and rate of defaecation. To further understand the probable mechanisms of its anti-diarrhoeal action, its effects were evaluated on gastro-intestinal motility and castor oil-induced enteropooling. The phytochemical screening of the ethanol extract of the leaves of G. latifolium revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and cardiac glycosides. The ethanol extract of the leaves of G. latifolium at the tested doses caused significant (p
ISSN:1684-5315
1684-5315
DOI:10.5897/AJB2013.12107