Evaluation of Diuretic Activity of Aqueous and Hydro Methanolic Crude Extracts and Solvent Fraction of the Hydromethanolic Flower Extract of Erica Arborea L. (Ericaceae) in Swiss Albino Mice

Purpose

To evaluate the diuretic effects of aqueous (AQ) and hydromethanolic crude extract (HM) the as well as the solvent fractions of the HM extract from Erica arborea flowers in mice.

Methods

Mice were administered AQ and HM crude extracts, along with solvent fractions of HM extracts of E. arborea flowers, including HXF (n-hexane fraction), EAF (ethyl acetate fraction), and AQF (aqueous fraction), at doses ranging from 100 to 400 mg/kg orally. The effects of these extracts and solvent fractions on urine and salt excretion over 5 hours were compared to the effects of the solvent used for reconstitution and a standard drug (furosemide 10 mg/kg), as well as to each other.

Results

The HM crude extract at a lower dose (100 mg/kg) significantly increased urine volume and salt excretion starting from the 3rd h compared to the AQ crude extract. Similar effects were observed for EAF. Notably, the HM extract and its EAF at 400 mg/kg showed comparable urine and salt excretion profiles to the standard drug.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that HM extract and EAF promote better diuresis, likely due to their saluretic properties. Furthermore, it confirms the diuretic activity of Erica arborea flowers.

Evaluation of the antidiarrheal activity of 80% methanol extract and solvent fractions of the leaf of Bersama abyssinica fresen (Melianthaceae) in mice

Introduction

The use of traditional medicinal plants in the management of diarrhea has long been practiced in Ethiopia. B. abyssinica fresen is one of the plants traditionally used to treat diarrhea whereas an in vivo study had not yet been conducted. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of crude extract and solvent fractions of the leaf of B. abyssinica in mice.

Methods

Cold maceration within 80% methanol was used to extract the leaf powder and extract of the leaf was fractionated using n-hexane, chloroform, and distilled water. The in vivo antidiarrheal activity of crude extracts and solvent fractions were tested in experimental models of castor oil-induced diarrhea, enteropooling, and antimotility test. Five groups each with 6 mice were used under the three antidiarrheal models. Positive controls were treated with loperamide 3 mg/kg and atropine 5 mg/kg and 2% tween 80 was used in the treatment of negative controls. The extract and solvent fractions were administered at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg. Time of onset of diarrhea, number and weight of total and wet feces, the percent reduction in the number of wet feces, weight and volume of intestinal contents, and percent inhibition of intestinal motility were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Result

Defecation of castor oil-induced diarrheal or loose stools was inhibited (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001) at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of crude extract and aqueous fraction. The crude extract and the aqueous fraction at three doses (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001), the chloroform fraction at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001), and the n-hexane fraction at 400 mg/kg (p < 0.05) reduced intraluminal fluid accumulation compared with the negative control. Castor oil-induced intestinal motility was significantly suppressed with the three-doses of aqueous fraction (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001), 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of crude extract (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01), 400 mg/kg of chloroform and n-hexane (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001) compared with negative control.

Conclusion

The crude extract, aqueous, and chloroform fractions of B. abyyssinica leaves have promising anti-diarrheal effects, supporting the plant's traditional use to treat diarrhea.

Evaluation of Antimalarial Activity of Methanolic Root Extract of Myrica salicifolia A Rich (Myricaceae) Against Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice

BACKGROUND

The management and control of malaria has become gradually challenging due to the spread of drug-resistant parasites, lack of effective vaccine, and the resistance of vector to insecticides. Consequently, novel agents are urgently needed from different sources including from medicinal plants. In Ethiopia and Uganda, Myrica salicifolia root is traditionally claimed for the treatment of malaria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo antimalarial activity of root crude extract of M salicifolia.

METHODS

The parasite, Plasmodium berghei was used in this study since it is an appropriate parasite that is most commonly used because of its higher accessibility. A 4-day suppressive test was employed to evaluate the antimalarial effect of crude extract against early infection. The curative and prophylactic effect of the crude extract was further tested by Rane's test and residual infection procedure. Parasitemia, survival time, packed cell volume, body weight, and rectal temperature of mice were used as evaluation parameters. Windows SPSS version 24 was used to analyze the data and analysis of variance followed by Tukey's honestly significant difference to compare results between groups.

RESULTS

The root crude extract of M salicifolia significantly (P < .05-.0001) suppressed parasitemia. The crude extract exhibited a chemosuppression of 40.90.

CONCLUSION

The development of new antimalarial agents and the finding supports the traditional claims and previous in vitro studies.