FREEZE DRIED EXTRACTS OF Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. And Sheriff. SHOW SIGNIFICANT ANTIDIARRHEAL ACTIVITY IN -VIVO MODELS OF DIARRHEA

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance of the studyDiarrhea remains one of the main killers of children aged below five years. Traditional antidiarrheal remedies form a potentially viable source of novel low cost efficacious antidiarrheal remedies in low resource settings. There is therefore a pressing to scientifically evaluate these remedies.\n\nAim of the studyThis study aimed to investigate the in vivo and in vitro antidiarrheal activity of Bidens biternata a herb species used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine in the management of diarrhea.\n\nMaterials and MethodsIn the castor oil test twenty (20) adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to the negative control (normal saline), positive control (5 mg/kg loperamide), (200 mg/kg Bidens biternata extract) and (400 mg/kg Bidens biternata extract) groups (n=5 in each group). Castor oil (4 ml/kg) was then administered to the animals one hour after administration of the respective treatments after which the total mass of fecal output excreted after four (4) hours was determined.\n\nIn the charcoal meal test fifteen (15) Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to the negative control (normal saline 5 ml/kg orally), the positive control (atropine sulphate 0.1 mg/kg i.p) and test (400 mg/kg Bidens biternata extract) groups (n=5). Charcoal meal was then administered via oral gavage to each rat thirty (30) minutes after the administration of the various treatments. The distance covered by the charcoal meal from the pylorus was then determined after sacrifice of the animals.\n\nIn the enteropooling test twenty (20) Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to the negative control (5% v/v ethanol in normal saline), positive control (5 mg/kg loperamide) and test (400 mg/kg Bidens biternata extract) groups and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (100g/kg) administered immediately after the treatments. The animals were then sacrificed half an hour later and the volume of the small intestine contents determined. The effects of different concentrations of Bidens biternata extract (0.5. 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg/ml) on jejunal contraction were investigated and a dose-response curve constructed using the experimental data after which The ED50 dose determined. The effect of tamsulosin (1 adrenergic blocker), yohimbine (2 adrenergic blocker), propranolol ({beta} adrenergic blocker) and naloxone ( opioid blocker) on the contractile activity of the extract were also investigated.\n\nThe experimental data were expressed as mean {+/-} standard error of mean (SEM) and then analyzed using one way ANOVA followed by Tukeys post hoc test in cases of significance (set at p\nView larger version (15K):\norg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1251d73org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1b08654org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@430f4forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@a210cc_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG