In Vivo Antidiarrheal Effect and Phytochemical Characterization of Plectranthus Barbatus Andrews
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Date
2024-01
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JABET
Abstract
Diarrheal infections remain a public health problem. The mainstays of
pharmacological therapy for infectious diarrhea include probiotics, antibacterials, and
intestinal adsorbents. Nevertheless, these clinical treatments are not devoid of
shortcomings including prohibitive costs and adverse effects. Medicinal plants
including Plectranthus barbatus (P. barbatus) have folkloric remedies against diarrhea.
However, there is paucity of knowledge to scientifically validate the efficacy of P.
barbatus on diarrheal infections. The study was undertaken to ascertain antidiarrheal
efficacy, bioactive composition, and toxicity profiles of P. barbatus extracts.
Antidiarrheal activity and acute toxicity were carried out on Swiss albino mice.
Quantitative phytocompound analysis was evaluated using liquid chromatographymass spectrometry (LCMS). Results indicated that P. barbatus extract has antidiarrheal
activity whereby it prolonged the start of diarrhea, causing a decline in the occurrence
of wet feces and intestinal transit significantly. Additionally, the extract reduced the
accumulation of intraluminal fluid resulting in decrease in distension, intestinal
overload, and water content in the fecal drops. Also, acute toxicity assay on mice
showed that P. barbatus extract was non-toxic at the dosage level of 2000mg/kgbw. In
addition, LCMS analysis detected presence of phytocompounds associated with
antidiarrheal effects including forskolin, gallic, kaempferol, and quercetin. Findings
from the current study offer a scientific validation for the folkloric utilization of P.
barbatus in the management of diarrhea.
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Citation
Ajwang EC, Ngugi MP, et al. In vivo antidiarrheal effect and phytochemical characterization of Plectranthus barbatus Andrews. J Adv Biotechnol Exp Ther. 2024; 7(1): 239-254