Evaluation of the antidiarrheal activity of hydromethanolic extract and solvent fractions of Ficus vasta forssk stem bark in mice

Abstract

Background: Diarrhea is the passage of three or more loose or watery stools per day. It is the second leading cause of death, resulting in 1.5 million cases annually mainly in children under five. It also accounts for 8.5% to 30.5% caused by microbial infections, medication, and radiation exposure in Ethiopia. The stem bark of F. vasta is traditionally used for diarrheal management in Ethiopia. However, its use has not been scientifically validated for efficacy and safety. Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the antidiarrheal antisecretory and anti-motility effects of hydromethanolic stem bark extract of F. vasta in Swiss albino mice models. Methods: After collecting and drying of the plant material, crude extraction and subsequent fractionation were performed. After grouping the mice into five, the antidiarrheal activity of F. vasta was screened using different models including castor oil-induced diarrhea, enteropooling, and gastrointestinal motility test models. Moreover, the onset of diarrhea, the total weight of fecal output, the total weight of wet feces, the number of wet feces, the total number of diarrheal feces, and the length of intestinal transit were recorded depending on the models. Finally, data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-test. Result: The extract of F. vasta stem bark produced neither death nor visible toxicity at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg. In the castor oil-induced diarrhea model, the middle and the highest doses of the extract (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) significantly delayed diarrheal onset (p< 0.001) as compared to the negative control. All tested doses of aqueous solvent fractions and n-hexane (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg) significantly antagonize the movement of the charcoal meal (p<0.001). The 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg doses of extract produced 27.70%, 48.95%, and 67.00% reduction of fluid content (p<0.001) compared to the negative control group. Conclusion: The extract of F. vasta exhibited anti-motility, antidiarrheal, and antisecretory activities in mice models. Moreover, it was found to be safe at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. These findings support the traditional Ethiopian use of F. vasta as a remedy for diarrheal diseases