Effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Tridax procumbens leaves on gastrointestinal motility and castor oil-induced diarrhoea in wistar rats

Abstract

The antidiarrheal as well as the phytochemical properties of the aqueous and ethanolic leave extract of Tridax procumbens was carried out in this study. Forty (40) albino Wistar rats weighing between 150 and 200 g were purchased for used. The 40 rats were divided into two sets for the different experiments. The animals were acclimatized to room temperature (28±5 °C) in a standard wire meshed plastic cages for 7 days prior to commencement of the experiment. During the entire period of study the animals were supplied with standard pellet diet and water ad libitum. Phytochemical studies carried out on aqueous and ethanol extract of Tridax procumbens leaves revealed the presence of twelve bioactive compounds which are alkaloid, saponin, phenol, tannin, flavonoid, cardiac glycoside, steroid, phytosterol, triterpenoid and phlobatannin. Tannins, phenols, phytosterol, triterpenoids and phlobatannins were detected in trace amount for the aqueous extract compared to the ethanol extract. Both aqueous and ethanol leave extracts of Tridax procumbens showed significant (p<0.05) antidiarrheal activity on gastrointestinal motility with barium sulfate milk model, while with the castor oil-induced diarrheal model, the aqueous extract showed no significant reduction (p>0.05) in the number of stool (wet feces) for 2h when compared with Lomotil drug (standard group). However, there was statistical significant difference (p<0.05) in wet stool for the ethanol extract. These result obtained revealed that the leaf extract might possess some pharmacological antidiarrheal activity and this may possibly explain the use of the plant in traditional medicine.