Determination of pathophysiological anti-diarrhoeal activity of the aqueous stem bark extract of Ficus platyphylla.
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Date
2022
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Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis. Mendel University in Brno
Abstract
This study was motivated by the report of a survey of herbal remedies used by Fulani herdsmen in
the management of cow diarrhoea in Plateau State, Nigeria. The report identified F. platyphylla stem
bark amongst major herbs. Activity of aqueous stem extract of F. platyphylla against diarrhoea caused
by physiological changes and by pathological infections was herein determined. Thirty albino rats
were fasted for 18 hours. They were grouped into six and induced with diarrhoea using castor oil.
The first two groups received distilled water (1 ml) and loperamide (5 mg/kg), while other groups
were administered plant extract 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight respectively. The severity
of diarrhoea was assessed hourly for 4 hrs. Gastrointestinal motility experiment was carried out
using atropine sulphate (5 mg/kg). In vitro anti-diarrhoeal test was carried out against E. coli clinical
and laboratory isolates versus antibiotics. The extract inhibited defecation moderately, and regulated
frequency of wet stool better than loperamide, the lowest dose (50 mg/kg b. w.) competed favourably
with the loperamide. This dose produced the most remarkable activity considering the latent period,
total stool frequency, purging indices and percentage inhibition of defecation. The dose showed
remarkable activity in the propulsion of charcoal meal through gastrointestinal tract as displayed in
the inhibition of diarrhoea. The results of in vitro anti-diarrhoeal test against E. coli showed that the
plant extract was inactive on the microorganism. The results from the present study validated the
anti-diarrhoeal potential of F. platyphylla via its physiological action
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Keywords
Research Subject Categories::FORESTRY, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES and LANDSCAPE PLANNING::Plant production::Plant and forest protection, diarrhoea, herbal remedy, castor oil, loperamide, gastrointestinal motility, E. coli
Citation
Adisa, J., Olatunji, G., Akanbi, H., Fabiyi, O. and Zakariyah, R. (2022). Determination of pathophysiological anti-diarrhoeal activity of the aqueous stem bark extract of Ficus platyphylla. Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 70(1): 51-58