Studies on gastrointestinal effects of Desmodium velutinum: A traditional remedy for diarrhea

Abstract

The gastrointestinal and antibacterial properties of dichloromethane: Methanol extract (DVE) and fractions (DVHF, DVDF and DVMF) from Desmodium velutinum Willd. DC. (Fabaceae) leaves were investigated. The extract and fractions significantly (p<0.05) reduced normal defecation in rats (33- 100%) and significantly (p<0.05-0.001) protected rats against castor oil- induced diarrhea (40-100%). They significantly (p<0.05) prolonged the intestinal transit time of charcoal meal in mice and inhibited the spontaneous contractions of the isolated rabbit jejunum and acetylcholine- and histamine-induced contractions of the guinea pig ileum. They potently protected against ethanol and mildly against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers. Only DVE inhibited the growth of Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi with MICs of 37.15, 39.81, 100 and 100 mg mL-1 respectively. Acute toxicity test on DVE established an oral LD50>5g kg-1 in mice. Results demonstrated that D. velutinum leaf possesses gastrointestinal antimotility and antispasmodic effects and mild antibacterial and gastroprotective activities. © 2014 Science Publication.