Safety, Tolerability and Anti-Diarrhoeal Activity of “Diarra”, a Preparation of Medicinal Plants Used in Ivorian Traditional Medicine

Background: “Diarra”, a traditional herbal remedy made from five (5) medicinal plants, might be endowed with anti-diarrhoeal properties according to its owner. However, scientific evidence of its safety, tolerability and activity has not been established. Objective: This study aimed to assess the safety, tolerability and anti-diarrhoeal activity of “Diarra” in experimental rats. Materials and Methods: Safety was assessed by acute (OECD 423) and sub-acute (OECD 407) toxicity studies at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg. Clinical tolerability was assessed for 28 days. On day 29, a blood sample was taken to evaluate biological tolerability. The anti-diarrhoeal activity was investigated in a castor oil-induced diarrhoea model. Rats were given the remedy at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg and then castor oil 1 hour later. They were observed for 4 hours and diarrhoeal stools were collected. The Percentage of diarrhoeal inhibition was calculated. Results: A single dose of “Diarra” at a dose of 2000 mg/kg did not induce any lethality, behavioural or weight change in rats for 14 days. When administered once daily for 28 days, “Diarra” did not cause lethality or significant behavioural disorders or significant weight loss in rats. No biological disorders were observed. The treatment of rats with “Diarra” at doses of 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg in a single administration inhibited the occurrence of diarrhoeal stools. The respective percentages of inhibition were 60%, 50% and 62%, similar to those of loperamide at a dose of 2 mg/kg (68%). Conclusion: “Diarra” has an anti-diarrheal activity in rats. It is also safe to use this remedy as such.

Therapeutic methods for diarrhea in children

DEFINITIONAcute diarrhoea is defined as passage of loose or waterystools at least three times in a 24 h period.When loosestools contain blood,it is called bloody diarrhoea(dysentery).It is the consistency of the stools which ismost important rather than the frequency.Breast-fed babiesoften pass'pasty'stools frequently which is not diarrhoea.The raother can often tell accurately whether child hasdiarrhoea or not.

Preliminary pharmacological evaluation of Alocasia indica Schott tuber

To elucidate potential antioxidant, antidiarrheal, cytotoxic, and antibacterial activities of the ethanol extract of A/ocasia indica Schott tuber in different experimental models established in vitro and in vivo. METHODS： In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2, 2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl （DPPH） radical-scavenging assay. Phenolic content was estimated by using Folin-Ciocalteu＇s reagent while reducing ability was measured by ferric reducing power assay./n vivo antidiarrheal studies were carried out in mice, and the activity was evaluated in castor oil and magnesium sulfate- induced diarrhea. Disk diffusion assay was utilized to determine antibacterial activity against a number of pathogenic bacterial strains. Acute toxicity test was carried out to measure the safe doses for the extract. RESULTS： In DPPH radical-scavenging assay, the extract exhibited strong radical-scavenging activity with the 50% inhibitory concentration value of 42.66 IJg/mL. Total phenolic content was found to be 542.26 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g of dried tuber extract, whereas flavonoid content was found to be 4.30 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dried tuber extract. In reducing power assay, the extract showed strong reducing power in a concentration-dependent manner. The extract significantly （P 〈 0.01） enhanced the latent period and decreased defecation in both castor oil- and magnesium sulfate-induced diarrhea. The extract also lessened gastrointestinal motility in mice. Potential antibacterial activity was exhibited by the extract against all the tested bacterial strains in disk diffusion assay. The 50% lethal concentration against brine shrimp nauplii was 81.09 μg/mL. CONCLUSION： The results demonstrated that the ethanol extract of A. inc/ica has potential antioxidant, antidiarrheal, cytotoxic, and antibacterial activity.

Pharmacological evaluation of Musa seminifera Lour. fruit

OBJECTIVE： To study potential antioxidant, analgesic, antidiarrheal, and antibacterial activities of the ethanol extract of Musa seminifera Lour. fruit in different established in vivo and in vitro experimental models. METHODS： In vitro antioxidant activity was studied in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl （DPPH） radical-scavenging assay. Phenolic content was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu＇s reagent. Reducing ability was evaluated by ferric reducing power assay. Peripherally and centrally acting analgesic activity was studied in three different in vivo models, namely, acetic acid-induced writhing, hot-plate test, and tail-flick test in Swiss albino mice. In vivo antidiarrheal activity was evaluated in castor oil- and magnesium sulfate-induced diarrhea in mice. Gastrointestinal motility test was also carried out in mice. All studies in mice were undertaken at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight. Antibacterial activity was assessed by disk diffusion assay against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Acute toxicity test was conducted to assess the safe doses of the extract. RESULTS： The extract showed 50% inhibitory concentration value of 12.65 μg/mL in DPPH radical- scavenging assay. Phenolic content was found to be 589.83 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g of dried fruits extract. Reducing power was in a concentration-dependent manner, and strongly comparable with the standard ascorbic acid. The extract demonstrated significant inhibition of writhing in acetic acid-induced writhing test at both dose levels （P〈0.01）. The extract also raised pain threshold in both hot-plate and tail-flick test in a dose-dependent manner, and the results were statistically significant （P〈0.01）. The extract significantly （P〈0.01） increased latent period, and decreased defecation in both castor oil- and magnesium sulfate-induced diarrhea. The extract also decreased gastrointestinal motility in mice. In disk diffusion assay, the extract showed potential antibacterial activity against all the tested bacterial strains. CONCLUSION： The results suggest that the ethanol extract of M. seminifera fruit has potential antioxidant, analgesic, antidiarrheal, and antibacterial activities.

Pharmacological evaluation of smooth muscle relaxant and cardiac-modulation potential of Phyla nodiflora in ex-vivo and in-vivo experiments

Objective: To investigate the pharmacological basis of its uses of Phyla nodiflora(P. nodiflora) for the treatment of anomalies predominantly by smooth muscle containing tissues such as gastrointestinal/vascular/broncho spasm and cardiovascular modulation.Methods: The crude hydroalcoholic extract of P. nodiflora(Pn.Cr) and its fractions were evaluated on isolated rabbit jejunum, rat trachea, aorta and atrium. To access the contractile or relaxant effects of testing materials, the tissues were mounted in isolated organ bath and responses were recorded with transducers coupled with data acquisition system.BALB/c mice were challenged with castor oil for the assessment of in-vivo antidiarrheal activity. Normotensive rats were used for in-vivo hypotensive study.Results: Hydroalcoholic extract of Pn.Cr at variable concentrations inhibited the natural spontaneous rhythm and 80 mmol/L K^+ mediated contractions in isolated segment of jejunum with EC_(50) values of 3.18 and 1.91 mg/mL respectively. Verapamil, a Ca^(2+) channel blocker, demonstrated akin pattern in jejunum and therefore possibly suggesting calcium blocking activity. On isolated rat tracheal tissue, Pn.Cr showed relaxation of high-K^+and carbachol mediated contractions(EC_(50) values: 1.24 and 2.42 mg/mL). Pn.Cr treatment relaxed the rat aortic ring in a cumulative doses with high-K^+ and phenylephrine-induced contractions(EC_(50) values 0.25 and 0.92 mg/mL). Activity based fractionation of Pn.Cr showed that dichloromethane fraction was more potent for relaxing the tissues spasm compared to aqueous fraction. In-vivo experiments, significant protection by Pn.Cr(P < 0.05) was observed in castor oil-induced diarrhea(50–500 mg/kg)whereas hypotensive effect in anesthetized rats was seen at the dose range of 1–10 mg/kg of Pn.Cr(P < 0.05).Conclusion: This study suggests the blockage of calcium channel in the smooth muscles as a pharmacological application to make usage of P. nodiflora in the management of diarrhea, asthma and hypotensive effect.

Studies on Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre leaves: understanding the mechanism(s) of action in infectious diarrhea

While data are available on the effect of medicinal plants on intestinal motility and their antibacterial action, there is a paucity of information on their mode of action on various aspects of diarrheal pathogenicity, namely colonization to intestinal epithelial cells and production/action of enterotoxins. Crude decoction of dried leaves of Pongamia pinnata was evaluated for its antimicrobial (antibacterial, antigiardial and antirotaviral) effect; and its effect on production and action of enterotoxins (cholera toxin, CT; Escherichia coli labile toxin, LT; and E. coli stable toxin, ST); and adherence of enteropathogenic E. coli and invasion of enteroinvasive E. coli and Shigella flexneri to epithelial cells. The decoction had no antibacterial, antigiardial and antirotaviral activity, but reduced production of CT and bacterial invasion to epithelial cells. The observed results indicated that the crude decoction of P. pinnata has selective antidiarrheal action with efficacy against cholera and enteroinvasive bacterial strains causing bloody diarrheal episodes.

Maytenus erythroxylon Reissek(Celastraceae) ethanol extract presents antidiarrheal activity via antimotility and antisecretory mechanisms

To investigate the acute toxicity, phytochemical profile, antidiarrheal activity and mechanisms of action of Maytenus erythroxylon (M. erythroxylon) ethanol extract. METHODSA castor oil-induced diarrhea model was used to evaluate antidiarrheal activity. Intestinal transit and gastric emptying protocols were used to evaluate a possible antimotility effect. KATP channels, nitric oxide, presynaptic α2-adrenergic and tissue adrenergic receptors were investigated to uncover antimotility mechanisms of action and castor oil-induced enteropooling to elucidate antisecretory mechanisms. RESULTSAll tested doses of the extract (62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) possessed antidiarrheal activity, with a significant decrease of the evacuation index. This activity is possibly related to a reduced gastric emptying (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) and to a decreased percentage of intestinal transit for all tested doses. That last effect seems to be modulated by nitric oxide, KATP channels and tissue adrenergic receptors. Besides, the extract also presented antisecretory effect due to a decrease of intestinal fluid accumulation. CONCLUSIONThe antidiarrheal effect of M. erythroxylon found in this study involves antimotility and antisecretory mechanisms that may be attributed to the chemical compounds found in this species: saponins, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes and steroids.

Antidiarrheal effect of fractions from stem bark of Thespesia populnea in rodents:Possible antimotility and antisecretory mechanisms

Objective:To evaluate antidiarrheal activity of the fractions of aqueous extract from stem barks of Thespesia populnea(Malvaceae).Methods:From the aqueous extract three fractions namely ethyl acetate fraction(EAF),methanolic fraction(MF) and residue fraction(RF) were made and stuthed for antidiarrheal activity.Antidiarrheal activity of the fractions were evaluated in castor oil induced diarrhea,prostaglandin E_2(PG-E_2) induced diarrhea and charcoal meal test as in vivo models and the most potent fraction was further evaluated with in vitro models to determine the possible antimotility effect.Results:In castor oil induced diarrhea model,the RF(10,25,50 and 100 mg/kg,po.) and MF(100 mg/kg,po.) has significantly reduced the cumulative wet faecal mass,where as the EAF have not shown any significant antidiarrheal activity,RF was found to be more potent than MF.Based on these results and percentage yield,only RF was evaluated in PGE_2 induced enteropooling and charcoal meal test.RF(10,25 and 50 mg/kg) had shown significant inhibition of PG-E_2 induced secretions(antisecretory) and decreased the movement of charcoal in charcoal meal test indicating its antimotility activity.Furthermore,RF has showed significant inhibition of acetylcholine,histamine and BaCl_2 induced contractions on rat colon,guinea pig ileum and rabbit jejunum with EC_(50) values of 241.7,303.1 and 286.1μg/mL,respectively indicating the antimotility effect of RF.The phytochemical analysis of RF showed presence of gums and mucilages and the possible mechanism may be the combination inhibition of elevated prostaglandin biosynthesis and reduced propulsive movement of the intestine.Conclusions: RF possesses good antidiarrheal activity comparing with other two fractions and the possible mechanism thought to be associated with combination of antisecretory and antimolity.

Antidiarrheal and phytochemical constituents of methanol extracts of some plants in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the antidiarrheal effects and the phytochemical constituents of methanol extracts of some plants used traditionally in kingdom of Saudi Arabia using castor oil-induced diarrhea and gastrointestinal motility test using charcoal meal method were examined.METHODS The methanolic extracts were initially assayed for their effects in castor oil-induced diarrhea at different doses(250and 500mg·kg-1 followed by their evaluation on the peristaltic movements in charcoal meal test.RESULTS The results of the present study indicates that,administration of the following methanol plant extracts;Rhazya stricta,Heliotropium bacciferum,Tribulus longipetalus,Achillea fragrantissima,Artemisia herba alba,Haloxylon salicornicum,Plantago coronopus,Cyperus conglomerates,Hordeum distichon,Eragrostis poaeoides,Astragalus spinosus,Lepidium sativum seeds induced a higher percentages of inhibition of diarrhea.While,the administration of Rhanterium epapposum,Moltkiopsis ciliate,Lasiurus hirsutus,Deverra triradiata,Lycium shawii.Echinops spinosus,Echinops hussoni,and Prosopis farcta were the least efficacy.The antidiarrheal effects of these plants might be due to their high contents of flavonoids and tannins.CONCLUSION It could be concluded that,the remarkable antidiarrheal effects of these plants attest to their utility in a wide range of stats of diarrhea.

Evaluation of the gastrointestinal anti-motility effect of Anacardium occidentale stem bark extract:A mechanistic study of antidiarrheal activity

Diarrhea is a prevalent gastrointestinal problem associated with fatal implications.It is a huge public health concern that requires better alternatives to current drugs.This study investigated the mechanisms involved in the antidiarrheal activity of Anacardium occidentale(Ao) stem bark extract,a plant commonly used in the management of diarrhea in Nigeria.Methanolic stem bark extract of the plant was partitioned into three fractions:hexane fraction,ethyl acetate fraction(Ao EF) and methanol fraction.In vitro studies on the effect of these fractions on guinea pig ileum(GPI) strips,as well as the modulatory effect of Ao EF on standard agonists-and antagonists-induced GPI contraction and relaxation,revealed Ao EF as the most active fraction.In vivo studies to assess the effect of Ao EF on the dopaminergic,muscarinic,and serotonergic pathways were carried out using gastric emptying(GE) and gastrointestinal transit(GT) as experimental end points.Ao EF was subjected to GC-MS analysis,while the identified compounds were docked with the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3(CHRM3) using Autodock Vina.Results indicated that Ao EF inhibited GE and GT via inhibition of CHRM3.In addition,GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 24 compounds in Ao EF,while docking indicated that octadecanoic acid 2-(2-hydroxylethoxy)ethyl ester exhibited the highest binding affinity to CHRM3.This study indicated that the antidiarrheal activity of Ao is through its antimotility effect via the inhibition of the muscarinic pathway.And since none of the identified compounds exhibited higher binding affinity to CHRM3 relative to loperamide,the antimotility activity of these phytoconstituents may be via synergism.

Synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles from leaf of Litchi chinensis and its biological activities

Objective: To synthesize and isolate silver and gold nanoparticles from Litchi chinensis leaf methanolic extract, and to evaluate its comparative biological activities including muscles relaxant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal. Methods: The gold and silver nanoparticles were synthesized by dissolving methanolic extract in gold chloride and silver nitrate solution separately which were confirmed by colour change and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and pellets were collected through centrifugation. Biological activities of the extract were conducted on BALB/c mice through various standard methods and the data were subjected to One-way ANOVA. Results: The colorless gold chloride solution changed to purple soon after the addition of plant extract, demonstrating that the reaction took place and gold ions were reduced to gold nanoparticles, while colorless silver nitrate solution changed to light and dark brown that was indicative of silver nanoparticles. The muscles relaxant activity showed that silver nanoparticles were more effective than gold nanoparticles and methanolic extract in traction test. The analgesic activity showed that silver and gold nanoparticles showed highest percentage decrease in acetic acid induced writhing at the doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg b.w. The highest anti-inflammatory activity was produced by gold nanoparticles followed by silver nanoparticles, while low activity was observed in methanolic leaf extract. Only the crude methanolic extract showed significant antidiarrheal activity as compared to the standard drug atropine sulphate, while antidiarrheal activities of gold and silver nanoparticles were non-significant. Conclusions: The present work concludes that isolated silver and gold nanoparticles from leaf methanolic extract shows strong muscles relaxant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities while crude methanolic extract possesses good antidiarrheal activity.

Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of Pharmacological Potential of Baliospermum solanifolium Leaf Extract

Background:Baliospermum solanifolium is a traditional medicinal plant,locally known as“dantigaacha”from Eu-phorbiaceae family,and has been used in different diseases treatments likes helminthiasis,skin diseases,diabetes,snake-bite,and leukoderma.Objectives:Depending on the traditional uses of B.solanifolium and the lack of scientific works,we aimed to conduct some pharmacological tests on its leaves.Methods:Active constituents of B.solanifolium were assessed by qualitative screening.DPPH(2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)was used for free radical scavenging assay.Behavioral change and mortality rate were used as indicators to assess the toxicity of B.solanifolium.The antidiabetic potential was evaluated by oral glucose toler-ance test(OGTT)and alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activity.In antidiarrheal activity,castor oil-induced mice were used.Antibacterial test was carried out by disk diffusion assay and MIC determination.Furthermore,analgesic activity was done by acetic acid-induced writhing method.Results:B.solanifolium contains alkaloids,carbohydrates,glycosides,flavonoids,tannis,phenolics etc.Acute toxicity test ensured the safety of the extract.In DPPH,the extract showed antioxidant activity with an IC50(con-centration needed to scavenge 50%DPPH)value of 61.65μg/mL.Total phenolic,flavonoid and tannin contents were determined as 124 mg GAE/g,440 mg QE/g and 344 mg GAE/g dried extract,respectively.In OGTT,the ex-tract reduced the blood glucose level significantly.In the alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity,the plant showed a concentration-dependent reduction of the enzyme at IC50 of 8.53 mg/mL.In the antidiarrheal test,B.solanifolium inhibit defecation 30.69%and 53.41%at dose 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg,respectively.The extract also showed antibacterial activity against four bacterial strains in the disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concen-tration(MIC)values were 62.5μg/mL,62.5μg/mL,125μg/mL and 62.5μg/mL against four bacterial strains,independently.In analgesic activity test,the extract reduced the writhing impulse up to 48.51%at 500 mg/kg dose.Conclusion:B.solanifolium contains many active phytoconstituents which may be the possible candidates for targeting diabetes,microbial infection,diarrhea and pain in the future.

Ethanol Extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch:Antidiarrheal Activity in Mice and Contraction Effect in Isolated Rabbit Jejunum

Objective:To evaluate the antidiarrheal effect of ethanol extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch root(GFR)in vivo and jejunal contraction in vitro.Methods:In vivo,50 mice were divided into negative control,positive control(verapamil),low-,medium-and high-dose GFR(250,500,1,000 mg/kg)groups by a random number table,10 mice in each group.The antidiarrheal activity was evaluated in castor oil-induced diarrhea mice model by evacuation index(El).In vitro,the effects of GFR(0.01,0.03,0.1,0.3,1,3,and 10 g/L)on the spontaneous contraction of isolated smooth muscle of rabbit jejunum and contraction of pretreated by Acetylcholine(ACh,10μmol/L)and KCl(60 mmol/L)were observed for 200 s.In addition,CaCl_(2)was accumulated to further study its mechanism after pretreating jejunal smooth muscle with GFR(1 and 3 g/L)or verapamil(0.03 and 0.1μmol/L)in a Ca^(2+)-free-high-K+solution containing ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid(EDTA).Results:GFR(500 and 1,000 mg/kg)significantly reduced El in castor oil-induced diarrhea model mice(P<0.01).Meanwhile,GFR(0.01,0.03,0.1,0.3,1,3,and 10 g/L)inhibited the spontaneous contraction of rabbit jejunum(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Contraction of jejunums samples pretreated by ACh and KCI with 50% effective concentration(EC50)values was 1.05(0.71-1.24),0.34(0.29-0.41)and 0.15(0.11-0.20)g/L,respectively.In addition,GFR moved the concentration-effect curve of CaCl_(2)down to the right,showing a similar effect to verapamil.Conclusions:GFR can effectively reduce diarrhea and inhibit intestinal contraction,and these antidiarrheal effects may be based on blocking L-type Ca^(2+) channels and muscarinic receptors.

Medicinal potential of Passiflora foetida L. plant extracts: biological and pharmacological activities

OBJECTIVE： To investigate analgesic, antidiarrhoeal and cytotoxic activities of the ethanol extract of Passiflora foetida L. （Passifloraceae） by three experimental methods. METHODS： Analgesic activity of the ethanol extract of Passiflora foetida L. （EEPF） was carried out using acetic acid-induced writhing inhibition in mice. The method of castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice was utilized to evaluate antidiarrhoeal activity. The cytotoxic activity of EEPF was explored with a brine shrimp lethality bioassay. RESULTS： The extract showed 68.75% and 30.00% inhibition of writhe at the doses of 500 and 250 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The extract increased the mean latent period prior to diarrhoeal onset to about 1.55 h and 1.17 h, and decreased the mean number of stools to 4.4 and 5.6 at the doses of 500 and 250 mg/kg body weight. The extract also demonstrated cytotoxic activity in the brine shrimp lethality assay, and the median lethal concentration for brine shrimp nauplii was 80 pg/mL. CONCLUSION： The results suggest that the plant extract has analgesic and antidiarrhoeal activities, supporting its uses in traditional medicine. The results also demonstrate that the plant extract possesses cytotoxic activities.

Lysophosphatidic acid increases SLC26A3 expression in inflamed intestine and reduces diarrheal severity in C57BL/6 mice with dextran-sodium-sulfate-induced colitis

Background Diarrhea is a common clinical feature of ulcerative colitis resulting from unbalanced intestinal fluid and salt absorption and secretion.The Cl-/HCO3-exchanger SLC26A3 is strongly expressed in the mid-distal colon and plays an essential role in colonic Cl-absorption and HCO3-secretion.Sic26a3 expression is up-regulated by lysophosphatidic acid （LPA） in vitro.Our study was designed to investigate the effects of LPA on SLC26A3 expression and the diarrheal phenotype in a mouse colitis model.Methods Colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by adding 4％ of dextran sodium sulfate （DSS） to the drinking water.The mice were assigned to LPA treatment DSS group,phosphate-buffered saline （PBS） treatment DSS group,DSS only group and untreated mice with a completely randomized design.Diarrhea severity was evaluated by measuring mice weight,disease activity index （DAI）,stool water content and macroscopic evaluation of colonic damage.The effect of LPA treatment on Sic26a3 mRNA level and protein expression in the different groups of mice was investigated by quantitative PCR and Western blotting.Results All mice treated with DSS lost weight,but the onset and severity of weight loss was attenuated in the LPA treatment DSS group.The increases in stool water content and the macroscopic inflammation score in LPA treatment DSS group were significantly lower compared to DSS control group or PBS treatment DSS group （（18.89±8.67）％ vs.（28.97±6.95）％ or （29.48±6.71）％,P=0.049,P=0.041,respectively and 2.67±0.81 vs.4.5±0.83 or 4.5±0.54,P=0.020,P=0.006,respectively）,as well as the increase in DAI （P=0.004,P=0.008,respectively）.LPA enema resulted in higher Slc26a3 mRNA and protein expression levels compared to PBS-treated and untreated DSS colitis mice.Conclusion LPA increases Slc26a3 expression in the inflamed intestine and reduces diarrhea severity in DSS-induced colitis,suggesting LPA might be a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of colitis associated diarrhea.

Determining the protective effects of Ma-Mu-Ran Antidiarrheal Capsules against acute DSS-induced enteritis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and fecal metabolomics

Ma-Mu-Ran Antidiarrheal Capsules(MMRAC)is traditional Chinese medicine that has been used to treat diarrhea caused by acute enteritis(AE)and bacillary dysentery in Xinjiang(China)for many years.However,the potential therapeutic mechanism of MMRAC for AE and its regulatory mechanism on host metabolism is unclear.This study used fecal metabolomics profiling with GC/MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis to explore the potential regulatory mechanisms of MMRAC on a dextran sulfate sodium salt(DSS)-induced mouse model of AE.Fecal metabolomics-based analyses were performed to detect the differentially expressed metabolites and metabolic pathways.The 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis was used to assess the altered gut microbes at the genus level and for functional prediction.Moreover,Pearson correlation analysis was used to integrate differentially expressed metabolites and altered bacterial genera.The results revealed that six intestinal bacteria and seven metabolites mediated metabolic disorders(i.e.,metabolism of amino acid,carbohydrate,cofactors and vitamins,and lipid)in AE mice.Besides,ten altered microbes mediated the differential expression of eight metabolites and regulated these metabolisms after MMRAC administration.Overall,these findings demonstrate that AE is associated with metabolic disorders and microbial dysbiosis.Further,we present that MMRAC exerts protective effects against AE by improving host metabolism through the intestinal flora.

Antidiarrheal effects of hydromethanolic extract of Combretum dolichopetalum leaves in mice

Objective:To evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of the hydromethanolic extract of Combretum dolichopetalum(C.dolichopetalum)leaves.Methods:The antidiarrheal activity of the hydromethanolic extract of C.dolichopetalum leaves was evaluated by inducing diarrhea with castor oil,testing small intestinal motility and establishing enteropooling models in mice.Five groups of animals were used for each model and were treated as follows:Group A received 10 mL/kg of distilled water,and Group B received loperamide(5 mg/kg)while Groups C,D,E received 50,100 and 200 mg/kg of hydromethanolic C.dolichopetalum extract,respectively.Results:The pre-treatment of the mice with the extract(50,100 and 200 mg/kg)caused a significantly dose-dependent decrease in the mean percentage of wet faeces(P<0.05),compared with the negative control in diarrhea induced by castor oil.The extract reduced the distance travelled by the charcoal meal in the small intestine in a dose-dependent manner in the treated groups,compared with the negative control.The charcoal meal travelled 64.71%,49.13%,55.21%,51.75%and 32.95%of the small intestine length in the groups treated with distilled water,loperamide,50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of C.dolichopetalum extract,respectively.The extract treatment produced a dose-dependent decrease in the mean small intestinal fluid volume,but there was no significant difference(P>0.05),compared with the negative control.Conclusions:The study shows that C.dolichopetalum leaves possess antidiarrheal activity and validate its use in ethnomedicine for that purpose.

Quantification of total tannin,flavonoid contents and pharmacognostic study of the seeds of Swietenia mahagoni(Linn.)

Objective:To justify the folkloric use of Swietenia mahagoni(S.mahagoni)seeds,90%ethanolic extract and their aqueous and organic partitioning substances were evaluated for their possible antidiarrhoeal and antimicrobial potentials in vivo.Methods:Crude ethanolic extract of S.mahagoni seeds were subjected and partitioned into fractions using solvents at different polarity.Antimicrobial and antidiarrheal activities were evaluated and subsequently outcomes were corresponded with the conventional standard drugs.Results:The antidiarrheal activity was assessed using mouse model,where unfractionated ethanolic extract significantly reduced,the number,onset,rate and weight of diarrheal episodes.This fraction showed the limited number of defecation episodes of 27.0%and 40.9%at dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight respectively and reference drug,loperamide,showed 53%at a dose of 50 mg/kg.All extract fractions exhibited the significant potential to kill or subside the growth of known Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.Conclusions:Ethanolic extract and their aqueous and organic fractious revealed the seeds of S.mahagoni(Linn.)have the potential to be used as a remedy for diarrhea and known pathogenic microbes which ensured the folkloric use of the seeds of S.mahagoni.