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Research Article · Open access · Published 12 March 2014

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 & I. N. Igbokwe1

American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Volume 9, Issue 2, pp. 114–124 · doi.org/10.3844/ajptsp.2014.114.124

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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.

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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

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STUDIES ON GASTROINTESTINAL EFFECTS OF DESMODIUM VELUTINUM: A TRADITIONAL REMEDY FOR DIARRHEAAmerican Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology · Volume 9, Issue 2 · pp. 114–124 · CC BY 3.0Download