Withania somnifera leaves have antidiarrheal activity. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Evaluation of Antidiarrheal Activity of 80% Methanol Extract and Solvent Fractions of the Leaves of(L.) Dunal in Swiss Albino Mice.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 ;2022:7968973. Epub 2022 May 9. PMID: 35586684
Getaye Tessema Desta
Background: a is an important medicinal plant for the treatment of diarrhea in Ethiopian folklore medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity ofleaves inalbino mice.
Materials and Methods: Hydromethanolic crude extraction and solvent fractionation were done using cold maceration technique. 80% methanol was used as a solvent in crude extraction, while distilled water, n-butanol, and chloroform were employed during fractionation. Castor oil-induced diarrhea, enteropooling, and gastrointestinal motility models were employed to evaluate antidiarrheal activity. Mice were randomly divided into five groups (six mice per group): negative control, which received 2% Tween 80 in distilled water; positive control, which received 3 mg/kg loperamide; and three test groups (III, IV, and V), which were treated with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg of crude extract and solvent fractions, respectively.
Results: The crude extract, aqueous, and n-butanol fractions significantly delayed the onset of diarrhea at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg dose. There was a significant reduction in the number and weight of stools at all tested doses of the crude extract and aqueous fraction, and at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of n-butanol fraction. Significant reduction in volume and weight of intestinal contents was observedat all tested doses of the crude extract, and at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of aqueous and n-butanol fractions. All tested doses of the crude extract and 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the aqueous and n-butanol fractions significantly reduced the motility of charcoal meal.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the crude extract and solvent fractions of theleaves have antidiarrheal activity and supported the folklore use of the plant.