title: Studies on Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre leaves: understanding the mechanism(s) of action in infectious diarrhea.
abstract: While data are available on the effect of medicinal plants on intestinal motility and their antibacterial action, there is a paucity of information on their mode of action on various aspects of diarrheal pathogenicity, namely colonization to intestinal epithelial cells and production/action of enterotoxins. Crude decoction of dried leaves of Pongamia pinnata was evaluated for its antimicrobial (antibacterial, antigiardial and antirotaviral) effect; and its effect on production and action of enterotoxins (cholera toxin, CT; Escherichia coli labile toxin, LT; and E. coli stable toxin, ST); and adherence of enteropathogenic E. coli and invasion of enteroinvasive E. coli and Shigella flexneri to epithelial cells. The decoction had no antibacterial, antigiardial and antirotaviral activity, but reduced production of CT and bacterial invasion to epithelial cells. The observed results indicated that the crude decoction of P. pinnata has selective antidiarrheal action with efficacy against cholera and enteroinvasive bacterial strains causing bloody diarrheal episodes.
authors.affiliation: The Foundation for Medical Research, R.G. Thadani Marg, Worli, Mumbai 400018, India. fmrbom@hathway.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brijesh
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Daswani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tetali
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Rojatkar
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Antia
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Birdi
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D033641:Millettia / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D004768:Enterotoxins; D010936:Plant Extracts