Antisecretory activity of plants used to treat gastrointestinal disorders in Mexico

J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Jan 3;103(1):66-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.06.046. Epub 2005 Sep 19.

Abstract

Aqueous and methanolic extracts from 26 medicinal plants used in Mexico to treat gastrointestinal disorders were screened to evaluate their antisecretory activity on cholera toxin-induced intestinal secretion in rat jejunal loops model. Extracts were tested at a dose of 300 mg/kg. From 56 samples tested, both extracts from Chiranthodendron pentadactylon, Hippocratea excelsa and Ocimum basilicum were the most potent with inhibition values ranging from 68.0 to 87.6%. On the other hand, the methanolic extract of Geranium mexicanum (aerial parts) and the aqueous extract of Bocconia frutescens showed the highest activity with inhibition values of 93.4 and 86.0%, respectively. The results obtained in this study give some scientific support to the use of the Mexican medicinal plants employed for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cholera Toxin / pharmacology
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / drug effects*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mexico
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Cholera Toxin