Abstract:
Background: Although diarrhea is a preventable disease, it continues to have a significant impact
on global health, with the burden being much greater in Sub-Saharan Africa. Medicinal plants
represent affordable and locally available resources to address many diseases, including diarrhea.
Thus, this study was aimed to investigate the antidiarrheal activities of the 80% hydromethanolic
crude extract and solvent fractions of Terminalia brownii Fresen (Combretaceae) leaves in Swiss
Albino mice.
Methods: The antidiarrheal tests were conducted by using castor oil induced diarrhea,
enteropooling and charcoal meal models. Animals were assigned in 5 groups each with 6 mice in
all three antidiarrheal models. Positive controls were treated with either loperamide 3 mg/kg or
atropine 5 mg/kg. Negative controls were given 10 ml/kg distilled water or 10 ml/kg of 2% Tween
80. Three tested group were administered the crude extract and solvent fractions at doses of 100,
200, and 400 mg/kg. The results were analyzed by using SPSS version 26 and expressed as mean
± SEM for each dose level. ANOVA followed by Post Hoc Tukey’s test was used to compare
result between treatment and control groups and P-values less than 0.05 were considered
statistically significant.
Results: Hydromethanolic crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction at all tested doses produced
significant reduction of wet defecation. Besides, total defecation was significantly reduced at a
dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction (at all tested doses).
The aqueous fraction at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg and the n-hexane fraction at 400 mg/kg
significantly inhibit wet and total defecation. Likewise, in the enteropooling test, a significant
reduction of weight and volume of intestinal contents were seen by the crude extract and ethyl
acetate fractions at a dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg. Castor oil induced intestinal motility was
significantly reduced (p < 0.001) by the crude extract and ethyl acetate fractions at all tested dose.
Conclusion: Terminalia brownii Fresen leaves has shown promising antidiarrheal activity which
validates its traditional use. Further studies such as; in vitro studies are needed to support the in vivo
methods
