Analysis of antidiarrhoeic effect of plants used in popular medicine

Authors

  • Cybele E. Almeida Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; Departamento de Fisiologia
  • Margô G.O. Karnikowski Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; Departamento de Fisiologia
  • Rejane Foleto Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; Departamento de Fisiologia
  • Bernardo Baldisserotto Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; Departamento de Fisiologia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101995000600002

Keywords:

Diarrhea^i1^sther, Plant extracts^i1^spharmacol, Plants, medicinal

Abstract

People customarily use the extracts of plants known to have antidiarrhoeal effects without any scientific base to explain the action of the extract. For this reason, an investigation was undertaken with a view to determining the efficacy of the effects of the brute aqueous extract (BAE) of the leaves of Psidium guajava (guava), Stachytarpheta cayenensis (bastard vervain), Polygonum punctatum (water. smartweed), Eugenia uniflora (Brazil or Surinam cherry) and Aster squamatus (zé-da-silva) on the intestinal transport of water in rats and on the gastrointestinal propulsion in mice. With the exception of the BAE of S. cayenensis, all other BAE's have increased the absorption of water in one or more intestinal portion in relation to the control group. All tested BAE, except that of P. punctatum, reduced the gastrointestinal propulsion in relation to that of the control group. The results indicate that the BAE of the leaves of P. guajava, S. cayenensis, P. punctatum, E. uniflora and A. squamatus have a potential antidiarrhoeic effect to be confirmed by additional investigations in animals infected with enteropathogenic agents.

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Published

1995-12-01

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Almeida, C. E., Karnikowski, M. G., Foleto, R., & Baldisserotto, B. (1995). Analysis of antidiarrhoeic effect of plants used in popular medicine . Revista De Saúde Pública, 29(6), 428-433. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101995000600002