Abstract

ELECTROLYTE PROFILE OF RABBIT FED WITH NAPOLEONAE IMPER1ALIS LEAF EXTRACT.

Aloh, G.S.,*Obeagu, Emmanuel Ifeanyi, Odo Christian Emeka, Okpara, Kingsley
Ezechukwu, Idenyi Friday .A., Obeagu Getrude Uzoma

Abstract

The effects of ethanol and water extracts of Napoleonae imperialis on magnesium trisilicate induced diarrhoea were studied in rabbits by monitoring the ions usually lost in stool when there is diarrhoea. The levels of the ions were measured in sera. The oral administration of 5ml each of ethanol and water extract caused the retention of 2726 ± 50.00 mg/mi and 1454.00 ± 28.00 mg/ml of chloride respectively. With 2ml each of the ethanol and water extracts, 503.00 ± 26.00 mg/ml and 1147 ± 10.80mg/ml of chloride were retained. 5ml and 2ml of the ethanol and water extracts caused about the same quantity of Mg2+ (93 mg/ml) to be retained in the sera of the rabbits. The levels of K+ retained when 5ml of the ethanol and water extracts were administered were 80.00 ± 0.007 mg/ml and 83.33 ± mg/ml respectively, while the levels retained upon administration of 2ml of the extracts were 8.33 ± 3.33mg/ml and 21.67 ±3.33 mg/ml. When 5ml each of the ethanol and water extracts were given, 20.322 ± 0.581ug and 23.645 ± 1.290 fig of PC>43 were found in the sera, while 2ml of the extracts caused 24.419 ± 2.129 ug and 26.677 ± 0.387 ug of PO4 3- to be retained. The levels of HCO3" retained in the sera with 5ml of the ethanol and water extracts were 29.983 ± 1.663 ug and 28.036 ± 1.238 ug each, while 2ml of the caused the retention of 23,508 ± 0.003 ug and 22.489 ± 0.718 ug respectively. Both 5ml and 2ml of the ethanol and water extracts caused almost the same level of Na+ ions to be retained at approximately 4mg/ml. The results of this study strongly indicate that 5ml of the ethanol extract of Napoleonae imperialis had a more effective antidiarrhoeal effect than both 5ml and 2ml of the same extracts.

Keywords: Napoleonae imperialis, effective antidiarrhoeal, magnesium trisilicate.