@article{A._O._P._C._A._N._O._M._2018, title={ANTIDIARRHEAL POTENTIALS OF SCHWENCKIA AMERICANA L. (SOLANACEAE): A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE AERIAL PART AND ROOT EXTRACTS}, volume={10}, url={https://journals.innovareacademics.in/index.php/ijpps/article/view/21928}, DOI={10.22159/ijpps.2018v10i1.21928}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Objective: </strong><em>Schwenckia americana </em>L. (Solanaceae) is employed as a decoction of either the leaves, roots or the whole plant in the treatment of diarrhoea in most West African countries. Using a comparative study approach, the antidiarrheal potentials of its aerial part and root extracts were evaluated to substantiate its local use in diarrhoea management.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>:<strong> </strong><em>In vivo</em> effects of the extracts on rodent models of diarrhea, enteropooling and gastric motility induced by castor oil were investigated as well as their effects on acetylcholine and histamine-induced guinea pig ileal contractions<em> in vitro</em>. Phytochemical analyses of both extracts were also carried out for tentative identification of constituents and quantitative estimation of total saponin and phenolic contents using standard methods.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>:<strong> </strong><em>S. americana </em>L.<em> </em>gave a significant (<em>P</em><0.001) reduction in the number of fecal droppings and fecal watery texture over 4 h. Gastrointestinal motility and the volume of intestinal content were also significantly (<em>P</em><0.001) reduced. <em>In vitro </em>studies revealed potent inhibition of guinea pig ileal contractions induced by acetylcholine and histamine by the extracts. However, the anti-diarrheal potentials in the root extract were higher than the aerial part extract, with the root extract exhibiting complete blockade of acetylcholine and histamine-induced ileal contractions and up to 100% inhibition of diarrheic feces passage at 400 mg/kg. The phytochemical analysis also revealed a higher relative abundance of phenols and saponins in the root extract.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>:<strong> </strong>This research has therefore pioneered the establishment of a scientific proof for the acclaimed anti-diarrheal potentials and hence the ethnomedicinal use of this herb. The existence of higher anti-diarrheal potentials in the root has also been established which could possibly be linked to a higher relative abundance of phenols and saponins in this part. </p>}, number={1}, journal={International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences}, author={A., Nwabunike I. and O., Okoli C. and P., Ezeugwu and C., Ezike A. and A., Onyeto C. and N., Mbaoji F. and O., Ndu O. and M., Onwuka A.}, year={2018}, month={Jan.}, pages={195–201} }