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Evaluation of Sorghum
bicolor leaf base extract for gastrointestinal effects
F. C. Nwinyi*
and H. O. Kwanashie
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy,
Ahmadu Bello University Main Campus, P.M.B. 1045, Zaria,
810271, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
fchyme@yahoo.co.uk.
Tel: +234-802 321 5755.
Accepted
1 October, 2009 |
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The leaf base of Sorghum bicolor (Family: Gramineae,
Poaceae) was cold-macerated with 70% v/v methanol. The
aqueous methanolic extract was further fractionated into
non-polar, medium polar and very polar components using
hexane, ethylacetate and water (aqueous), respectively. The
gastrointestinal effects of these extracts were tested on
intestinal motility (transit) in mice, castor oil-induced
diarrhoeal model in rats, isolated rabbit jejunum, guinea
pig ileum and rat stomach fundus strip. The oral and
intraperitoneal LD50 values for the extracts were
determined in mice and rats. The aqueous methanolic extract
(100 – 400 mg/kg i.p) significantly (P < 0.05) and
dose-dependently decreased the intestinal motility,
inhibited castor oil-induced diarrhoea, produced
concentration-dependent relaxation of rabbit jejunum with
half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of
0.21 mg/ml. This extract also produced both non-myogenic and
slight relaxation effects on guinea pig ileum and a
contraction on rat stomach fundus strips. Both aqueous and
ethylacetate fractions also reduced intestinal motility.
However, ethylacetate fraction caused greater reduction than
the aqueous fraction. The oral LD50 value for the
aqueous methanolic extact in both rats and mice was found to
be ≥ 2000 mg/kg while the intraperitoneal values are 1414.2
mg/kg in rats and 1341.6 mg/kg in mice. The intrapertoneal
value for both aqueous and ethylacetate fractions is ≥ 2000
mg/kg in mice. The study provided scientific bases for the
traditional use of S. bicolor for treatment of
gastrointestinal related problems such as diarrhoea.
Key words:
Sorghum bicolor, gastrointestinal, motility,
diarrhoea, jejunum, ileum, fundus. |
