Anti-motility and reductions in the concentrations of gut electrolytes: Mechanisms for the anti-spasmodic use of the seeds of avocado (Persea americana Mill) in folk medicine

• Published in: African journal of biotechnology Vol. 12; no. 37; pp. 5610 - 5617
• Main Authors: ODO, Christian E, NWODO, Okwesili FC, JOSHUA, Parker E, OMEH, Yusuf S, OKONKWO, Christopher C, GOMETI, Ajiroghene S, NWEJE-ANYALOWU, Paul C, DICKSON, Dickson I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2013
• Subjects: Persea americana
• ISSN: 1684-5315; 1684-5315
• DOI: 10.5897/AJB2013.12349

The seeds of avocado (Persea americana Mill) are used in traditional medicine to treat, allay or prevent some spasm-related disorders, for instance, diarrhoea. The chloroform and methanol fractions of the chloroform-methanol extract of the seeds of P. americana were investigated for their qualitative and quantitative phytochemical constituents as well as effects on gastro-intestinal motility (transit) and castor oil-induced intestinal fluid sodium ion (Na+) and potassium ion (K+) concentrations in Wistar rats. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical studies of the chloroform and methanol fractions showed the presence and amounts of alkaloids (2.92 + or - 0.14 g/100 g and 2.81 + or - 0.08 g/100 g respectively), flavonoids (3.43 + or - 0.19 g/100 g and 3.11 + or - 0.16 g/100 g, respectively), tannins (2.64 + or - 0.13 g/100 g and 2.85 + or - 0.14 g/100 g, respectively), steroids (1.51 + or - 0.07 g/100 g and 1.27 + or - 0.04 g/100 g, respectively), saponins (2.35 + or - 0.08 % and 2.47 + or - 0.09%, respectively), terpenoids, proteins and carbohydrates in both fractions. Fats and oil were present only in the chloroform fraction. At the two doses (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight), the chloroform and methanol fractions produced significant (p<0.05) and dose-related decreases in the gastro-intestinal motility and concentration of the intestinal fluid potassium ions but only the chloroform fraction at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight significantly (p<0.05) decreased the concentration of the intestinal fluid sodium ions. Results of the fractions were comparable with those of the standard anti-diarrhoeal drug, hyoscine butylbromide (3 mg/kg body weight). The results indicate that the chloroform-methanol extract of the seeds of P. americana contains compounds with anti-spasmodic effect.