leaf extract improves gastrointestinal functions in rats and rabbits: an implication for ulcer and diarrhoea management.

Purpose: L. (Family, Myrtaceae) is reportedly used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of diarrhoea, inflammation, and gastroenteritis.

Objective: This study evaluated the gastrointestinal function of leaf extract (PGLE) in rats and rabbits.

Materials And Methods: Crude ethanolic PGLE was subjected to phytochemical and toxicity tests (acute and sub-acute). Standard analytical procedures were employed to evaluate the gastrointestinal motility, and gastroprotective effect of PGLE against aspirin-induced ulcers.

Results: In the phytochemical analysis, phenols were the highest (48.32 mg) followed by flavonoids (32.74 mg) and least in tannins (7.31 mg). The acute toxicity of PGLE was >6000 mg/kg. Administration of PGLE decreased significantly ( < 0.05) the body weight, while the liver biomarkers were not significantly altered ( > 0.05) when compared to the control. PGLE significantly increased extractible mucus weight and lowered gastric acid secretion in rats ( < 0.05). PGLE decreased significantly ( < 0.05) ulcer scores and indexes, and increased percentage ulcer inhibition in a dose-dependent manner compared to the negative and omeprazole-treated groups. PGLE dose-dependently inhibited basal amplitudes of contractions, and significantly inhibited acetylcholine-induced contractions, terminating them completely at higher doses.

Conclusion: PGLE may be a good anti-ulcer and anti-diarrhoeal agent, raising the prospect of novel drug development for such applications.