Evaluation of the Antispasmodic and Antisecretory Activities of the 80% Methanol Extracts of Verbena officinalis L: Evidence From In Vivo Antidiarrheal Study

Abstract

Verbena officinalis L. has a folkloric repute for the management of digestive disorders, including diarrhea. However, the safety and efficacy of the plant material has not been scientifically validated yet. This study was, therefore, aimed to evaluate the overall antidiarrheal activity of the 80% methanol extracts of V officinalis in mice. The antidiarrheal activity of the 80% methanol extracts of the roots (R-80ME) and the leaves (L-80ME) of V officinalis was tested in castor oil–induced diarrhea in mice. R-80ME was further evaluated using charcoal meal and entero-pooling. In each test, group I and group II (controls) received 10 mL/kg distilled water and standard drug (5 mg/kg loperamide), respectively, whereas groups III, IV, and V (test groups) received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the 80ME, respectively. The R-80ME at 200 mg/kg (P