Purgative Activities of Securidaca Longepedunculata Root Bark Aqueous Extract in Loperamide-Induced Constipated Wistar Rats

Abstract

Constipation is a digestive tract disorder that can cause painful, stiff, and infrequent stools as well as difficulty in passage of the stool. The intestines may close as a result of acute constipation, necessitating surgery. Constipation is one of several ailments that plants have long been used as a source of medicine. In loperamide-induced constipated wistar rats, the current study evaluated the purgative activity of Securidaca longepedunculata root bark aqueous extract by measuring the peristaltic index after 30 minutes of meal administration. The gastric emptying effect of the extract was also evaluated by determining the weight of the meal emptied by the rat within 1 hour period after meal administration. For each objective, twenty-five animals (5 constipated and 20 non-constipated) were selected and randomly divided into five groups of five rats each. They were treated with 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg of the aqueous extract via i.p. injections, and 5 ml/kg of normal saline was administered to normal and constipated control groups. The study revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in intestinal length covered by administered meal in the S. longepedunculata extract treated group at 5 mg/kg (65.00±1.58cm), 10 mg/kg (59.80 ± 3.24cm) as compared to the constipated group (14.80 ± 1.77cm). Similarly, there was a significant increase in intestinal length covered by administered meal at 20 mg/kg (73.80 ± 1.53) as compared to normal (61.00 ± 3.93cm) and constipated control groups (14.80 ± 1.77cm) respectively. The percentage intestinal length covered by administered meal was also significantly (p<0.05) increased in the S. longepedunculata extract treated group at 5 mg/kg (74.60 ± 2.78%), 10 mg/kg (67.63 ± 1.06%) as compared to constipated group (17.40 ±2.33%). Similarly, there was also a significant increase at 20 mg/kg (83.20 ± 2.95%) compared to normal (70.00 ± 4. 60%) and constipated control groups (17.40 ±2.33%).
Gastric meal emptied was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the S. longepedunculata extract treated group at 5 mg/kg (5.42±0.11g), 10 mg/kg (5.10 ± 0.20g) compared to normal (3.48 ± 0.18g) and constipated control groups (2.18 ± 0.22g); and the 20 mg/kg (3.88±0.17) as compared to constipated control group (2.18 ± 0.22g). Meal weight in stomach was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the S. longepedunculata root-bark aqueous extract treated group at 5 mg/kg (1.78±0.11g), 10 mg/kg (2.10±0.20g) compared to normal (3. 62±0.16g) and constipated control groups (5. 02±0.22g); and 20 mg/kg (3.42±0.16) as compared to constipated control group. (5.02±0.22g). It was therefore concluded that graded doses (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 20 mg/kg) of S. longepedunculata aqueous root-bark extracts are effective purgatives in albino Wistar rats and might have therapeutic potential in the management of bowel emptying disorders.