Evaluation of laxative activity of aqueous extract of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. fruits on mice
Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Research Article
Comprehensive Research and Reviews in Life Sciences, 2022, 01(01), 001-006.
Article DOI: 10.57219/crrls.2022.1.1.0031
Publication history:
Received on 02 August 2022; revised on 05 September 2022; accepted on 08 September 2022
Abstract:
Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder with a well-recognized tendency to cause discomfort which also affects the quality of life. Medicinal plant is defined as any substance with one or more of its organs containing substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes or which can be used as precursors for synthesis of drugs. Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Bitter apple), a valuable plant from Cucurbitaceae family is a non-hardy, herbaceous perennial vine, branched from the base with leafy and stiff-haired stems. This study evaluated the laxative activity of aqueous extract of Citrullus colocynthis fruits on mice. Bisacodyl (25 mg/kg), a standard drug. served as positive control while aqueous extract of Citrullus colocynthis fruits was administered at the doses of 20 and 50 mg/kg orally. Sixteen (16) animals were used and placed in metabolic cages designed specially to separate urine and fecal materials. The fecal outputs were collected and weighed at every 8 and 16 hours for 5 days. The results revealed the extract to have time and dose dependent activity patterns. Higher activity of the extract was recorded in 50 mg/kg up to 8 hours throughout the period of experiment. This showed that the efficacy of the doses could not last for 16 hours since treatment was only given once per day. This result also showed higher activity when compared with the standard drug, Bisacodyl. This study supported the folkloric laxative use of Citrullus colocynthis fruit.
Keywords:
Constipation; Medicinal Plants; Citrullus colocynthis; Laxative; Cucurbitaceae.
Full text article in PDF:
Copyright information:
Copyright © 2022 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0