Effect of plants used in Mexico to treat gastrointestinal disorders on charcoal-gum acacia-induced hyperperistalsis in rats.
BACKGROUND
A total of 28 plant extracts, belonging to 26 different plant species are commonly used in Traditional Mexican Medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of medicinal plant extracts on induced hyperperistalsis in rats.


METHODS
Charcoal meal test was used in this study. Extracts were tested at a dose of 300mg/kg.


RESULTS
From all the plant extracts tested, only Geranium mexicanum (roots) showed 100% of inhibition. The extracts of Artemisia absinthium, Matricaria recutita, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Lygodium venustum, Chenopodium ambrosoides (green variety), Aloysia triphylla, Artemisia ludoviciana, Chiranthodendron pentadactylon, and Cocos nucifera showed moderate inhibitory activity with values ranging from 30 to 57%. Their activities were greater than that of or equal to loperamide (34% of inhibition at doses of 10mg/kg) drug used as control. The remaining plants exhibited marginal or null inhibitory effect on hyperpropulsive movement of the small intestine.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained in this study give some scientific support to the popular use of 23 of the plants tested for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea in Mexican traditional medicine. However, roots of Geranium mexicanum should be used in herbal medicine with care to avoid toxicity.
Calzada
Fernando
F
Unidad de Investigación Médica en Farmacología de Productos Naturales, 2 degrees Piso CORCE, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS, Av Cuauhtemoc 330, Col Doctores, CP 06725, DF, Mexico. fercalber1@hotmail.com
Arista
Ramón
R
Pérez
Halley
H
D000818:Animals; D002606:Charcoal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006170:Gum Arabic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008800:Mexico; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats
D010936:Plant Extracts; D002606:Charcoal; D006170:Gum Arabic