Abstract

BIOLOGICAL EFFECT OF THE TOTAL AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF VITELLARIA PARADOXA LEAVES C.F GAERTN ON THE DIGESTIVE TRACT OF THE WISTAR STRAIN RAT

Peudowo Martiel Mabéa, Kassim Dosso*, Yao Bernard Diby

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Abstract

The antidiarrheal effects of the aqueous extract of Vitellaria paradoxa leaves (AEVp) were evaluated at different doses (100; 200 and 400 mg/kg BW) on the one hand, on the number of total and diarrheal stools induced by castor oil, and on the other hand, on the gastrointestinal distance traveled by a charcoal solution, in rats. The results show that AEVp, at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively cause a significant inhibition of diarrhea of 77.58 and 77.95% of the number of diarrheal stools, compared to the control group. At the maximum dose, AEVp significantly reduces the severity of diarrhea, the volume and weight of diarrheal stools, and the secretion of electrolytes Na+, K+, Cl- and Ca2+. These observations are similar to those obtained in the group of rats treated with loperamide, the reference anti-diarrheal drug. We also observe a significant reduction of 57.52% in the gastrointestinal distance induced by AEVp at the maximum dose of 400 mg/kg BW compared to the total length of the intestine. The action of atropine is similar to that of AEVp. The aqueous extract of Vitellaria paradoxa leaves would exert a dose-dependent anti-diarrheal effect. This effect is reflected on the one hand by a significant decrease in the number of total and diarrheal stools and on the other hand by a tendency to reduce gastrointestinal mobility. Our extract would induce a reduction in peristalsis and a decrease in intestinal secretion. The effects observed with AEVp could be due to the chemical compounds contained in Vitellaria paradoxa leaves.

Keywords: Stools - Diarrhea – Gastrointestinal mobility – Rats - Vitellaria paradoxa.