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ISSN: 1557-4962 (Print)
ISSN: 1557-4970 (Online)
Research Article Open Access

STUDIES ON GASTROINTESTINAL EFFECTS OF DESMODIUM VELUTINUM: A TRADITIONAL REMEDY FOR DIARRHEA

A. C. Ezike1, P. A. Akah1, C. O. Okoli1, I. K. Ufere1, E. Ezeudu1, C. F. Okoye1, C. Ashara1 and I. N. Igbokwe1
  • 1 University of Nigeria, Nigeria

Abstract

The gastrointestinal and antibacterial properties of dichloromethane: Methanol extract (DVE) and fractions (DVHF, DVDF and DVMF) from Desmodium velutinum Willd. DC. (Fabaceae) leaves were investigated. The extract and fractions significantly (p<0.05) reduced normal defecation in rats (33-100%) and significantly (p<0.05-0.001) protected rats against castor oil- induced diarrhea (40-100%). They significantly (p<0.05) prolonged the intestinal transit time of charcoal meal in mice and inhibited the spontaneous contractions of the isolated rabbit jejunum and acetylcholine- and histamine-induced contractions of the guinea pig ileum. They potently protected against ethanol and mildly against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers. Only DVE inhibited the growth of Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi with MICs of 37.15, 39.81, 100 and 100 mg mL-1 respectively. Acute toxicity test on DVE established an oral LD50>5g kg-1 in mice. Results demonstrated that D. velutinum leaf possesses gastrointestinal antimotility and antispasmodic effects and mild antibacterial and gastroprotective activities.

American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Volume 9 No. 2, 2014, 114-124

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajptsp.2014.114.124

Submitted On: 26 November 2013 Published On: 12 March 2014

How to Cite: Ezike, A. C., Akah, P. A., Okoli, C. O., Ufere, I. K., Ezeudu, E., Okoye, C. F., Ashara, C. & Igbokwe, I. N. (2014). STUDIES ON GASTROINTESTINAL EFFECTS OF DESMODIUM VELUTINUM: A TRADITIONAL REMEDY FOR DIARRHEA. American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 9(2), 114-124. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajptsp.2014.114.124

Open AccessCopyright: © 2014 A. C. Ezike, P. A. Akah, C. O. Okoli, I. K. Ufere, E. Ezeudu, C. F. Okoye, C. Ashara and I. N. Igbokwe. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Keywords

  • Desmodium Velutinum
  • Antispasmodic
  • Gastrointestinal Motility
  • Guinea Pig Ileum
  • Rabbit Jejunum