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Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Effects of Aqueous Stem Bark Extract of Citrus aurantifolia on the Gastrointestinal Tract of Wistar Rats

Idakwoji Precious Adejoh, Ajima Judith Nnedimkpa, Anosike Joy Chizoba, Amadi Emenike Benjamin, Nweje-Anyalowu Paul Chukwuemeka

Asian Journal of Research in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences · pp. 1–7 · Published 26 Nov 2018

10.9734/AJRIMPS/2018/45419

Abstract

Objective: The anti-diarrhoea activity of the aqueous extract of the stem bark of C. aurantifolia was investigated in this study. Materials and Methods: Acute toxicity evaluation of the aqueous extract of C. aurantifolia stem bark was carried out using rats according to Lorke’s method. Experimental diarrhoea was induced in rats with castor oil, and the effect of the extract on castor oil-induced gastrointestinal motility and enteropooling was consequently investigated. Results: In the acute toxicity study, the extract produced no signs of toxicity or mortality in rats up to a dose of 5000 mg/kg. The oral LD50 of the aqueous stem bark extract of C. aurantifolia was therefore taken to be >5000 mg /kg. The extract significantly (p<0.05) decreased the frequency of defecation as well as in the number of unformed faeces produced by castor oil-induced diarrhoea in a dose- dependent manner. The extract also decreased the distance travelled by activated charcoal in the gastrointestinal tract of treated rats when compared to control rats. Results of castor oil-induced enteropooling revealed slight reduction in the weight of intestinal contents of treated rats compared to control rats. Conclusion: This study shows that Citrus aurantifolia stem bark possesses significant anti-antidiarrhoeal potential and could be useful in the treatment of diarrhoea.

Gastrointestinal tract aqueous stem bark Citrus aurantifolia wistar rats.

Cited by 1

Polynesian medicine used to treat diarrhea and ciguatera: An ethnobotanical survey in six islands from French Polynesia

François Chassagne, Jean-François Butaud, Frédéric Torrente · Journal of Ethnopharmacology · 2022

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