Anti-diarrhoeal and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Methanolic Extract of Guiera senegalensis Leaves in Rodents

Objective: To investigate if the methanolic extract of Guiera senegalensis leaves actually possesses any anti-diarrhoeal and anti-inflammatory effects in rodents. Methods: The anti-diarrhoeal effect of extract (250 -750 mg/kg; p.o.), on intestinal propulsion in unanaesthetized rats was tested using charcoal meal method, castor oil-induced diarrhoea and fluid accumulation respectively. Its anti-inflammatory property was also investigated in carrageenin - induced rat hindpaw edema, acetic acid-induced writhing in mice as well as indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in rats. The extract effects were compared with standard drugs (atropine, 1.0 mg/kg; yohimbine, 1.0 mg/kg; diphenoxylate, 5.0 mg/kg and cimetidine, 100.0 mg/kg respectively). Results: The extract (250 -750 mg/ kg) dose-dependently, reduced significantly (p < 0.01 - 0.001) the intestinal propulsive movement, castor oil-induced diarrhoea and intestinal fluid accumulation. Similarly, it also reduced indomethacin-induced ulceration, carrageenin-induced inflammation and acetic acid- induced writhing in mice. These effects were statistically significant. Conclusion: The results indicate that the observed anti-diarrhoeal and anti- inflammatory effects might in part be due to α₂ - adrenoceptor stimulation, possession of anticholinergic properties, inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis as well as improvement of microcirculation.