Antidiarrhoeal and antiulcerogenic effects of methanolic extract of Asparagus pubescens root in rats

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 72; no. 3; pp. 421 - 427
• Main Authors: Nwafor, Paul A., Okwuasaba, F.K., Binda, L.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.10.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anti-Ulcer Agents - pharmacology; Antidiarrheals - pharmacology; Antidiarrhoeal; Antiulcer; Asparagus pubescens root; Biological and medical sciences; Gastrointestinal Motility - drug effects; General pharmacology; Indomethacin - adverse effects; Liliaceae - chemistry; Medical sciences; Methanol - chemistry; Methanolic extract; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Roots - chemistry; Stomach Ulcer - chemically induced; Nigeria; Africa; Methanolic extract; Antiulcer; Asparagus pubescens root; Antidiarrhoeal; Stomach; Monocotyledones; Root; Rat; Pharmacognosy; Rodentia; Diarrhea; Extract; Medicinal plant; Liliaceae; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Folk medicine; Animal; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Ulcer; Spermatophyta; Phytotherapy; Gastric disease
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00261-0

The effect of methanolic extract of Asparagus pubescens root on experimentally-induced diarrhoea and ulceration was investigated in rats. The extract (500–1500 mg/kg) dose-dependently, reduced significantly the intestinal propulsive movement, castor oil-induced diarrhoea and intestinal fluid accumulation. Yohimbine an α 2-adrenoceptor blocker attenuated the antidiarrhoeal effect of the extract. The extract also reduced the ulcer indices induced by indomethacin and ethanol in a dose-related manner. The results indicate that its antidiarrhoeal and antiulcerogenic effects might in part be due to its α 2-adrenoceptor stimulation and its active constituents respectively.