Effect of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Bixa orellana Linn (Bixaceae) Leaves on Castor Oil-Induced Diarrhea in Swiss Albino Mice

Michel Archange Fokam Tagne; Hypolyte Akaou; Paul Aimé Noubissi; Angèle Foyet Fondjo; Yaouke Rékabi; Henri Wambe; René Kamgang; Jean-Louis Essame Oyono

doi:10.1155/2019/6963548

Effect of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Bixa orellana Linn (Bixaceae) Leaves on Castor Oil-Induced Diarrhea in Swiss Albino Mice

Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2019 Dec 1:2019:6963548. doi: 10.1155/2019/6963548. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Michel Archange Fokam Tagne¹, Hypolyte Akaou¹, Paul Aimé Noubissi², Angèle Foyet Fondjo³, Yaouke Rékabi¹, Henri Wambe⁴, René Kamgang^{5

6}, Jean-Louis Essame Oyono⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
² Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon.
³ Department of Applied Sciences for Health, Higher Institute of Applied Sciences, University Institute of Gulf of Guinea, Cameroon.
⁴ Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
⁵ Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
⁶ Laboratory of Endocrinology and Radioisotopes, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM), Yaounde, Cameroon.

Abstract

Objective: The treatment of diarrheal diseases is a serious problem in developing countries, where population generally uses medicinal plants. The leaves of Bixa orellana have been reported to be traditionally used in the treatment of diarrhea by local people in the district of Khulna in Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the hydroethanolic extract of Bixa orellana leaves on castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice.

Methods: The powder of the leaves of Bixa orellana was macerated in ethanol/water mixture (20/80) for 48 hours and then filtered. The filtrate obtained was lyophilized, and the solutions to be administered to the animals were prepared. To induce diarrhea, animals orally received castor oil (1 mL/100 g bw). To determine the effective doses, each mouse received, 30 minutes after the administration of castor oil, one of the single oral doses of hydroethanolic extract of Bixa orellana leaves: 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw. The mass, number, and frequency of stool diarrhea were measured and recorded per hour for five hours. The effect of the hydroethanolic extract of Bixa orellana leaves on the intestinal transit was evaluated by measuring the distance traveled by the charcoal meal in thirty minutes. The effects of the aqueous extract of hydroethanolic extract of Bixa orellana leaves on intestinal secretion were evaluated by measuring the volume of the intestinal content and by dosing the electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^-) in the intestinal content by the colorimetric method.

Results: The extract produced significant (P < 0.01) decreases, respectively, 35.52%, 54.47%, 74.80%, and 87.80% in the severity of diarrhea. The extract at 100 and 200 mg/kg bw showed a significant (P < 0.01) decrease of castor oil-induced enteropooling (61.08% and 65.41%), and only the 200 mg/kg bw exhibited significant (P < 0.01) reduction on intestinal transit (24.46%) as compared to standard drug.

Conclusions: The hydroethanolic extract was found to be effective against castor oil-induced diarrhea in experimental mice at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw which provides evidence that could justify its traditional use.