title: Prokinetic and laxative effects of the crude methanolic extract of Viola betonicifolia whole plant in rodents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was aimed to provide ethnopharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Viola betonicifolia whole plant in indigestion and constipation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were used in in-vivo prokinetic and laxative studies while in-vitro experiments were conducted on isolated tissues of rabbit and guinea-pig gut preparations suspended in a tissue bath to measure isotonic contractions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The crude methanolic extract of Viola betonicifolia (VBME) showed partially atropine-sensitive prokinetic (50 and 100 mg/kg) and laxative (30 and 100 mg/kg) activities in mice. When tested in isolated rabbit jejunum and guinea-pig ileum, VBME caused dose-dependent contractions at 0.01-0.3 mg/mL and 0.03-5 mg/mL, respectively. The spasmogenic effect was partially sensitive to atropine, while the presence of pyrilamine, SB203186 or hexamethonium had no effect in both gut preparations. VBME partially inhibited acetylcholinesterase enzyme (19%) in the in-vitro assay. The spasmodic effect of VBME was more efficacious in guinea-pig ileum than rabbit jejunum preparation. The phytochemical analysis of the crude methanolic extract for total alkaloids and saponins revealed that the VBME is a rich source of alkaloids and saponins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed the prokinetic and laxative effects of Viola betonicifolia in mice, partially mediated through cholinergic action. The in-vitro spasmodic effect of the plant extract was also partially sensitive to atropine indicating more than one mechanisms in the gut stimulant effect. This study provides a rationale for the medicinal use of Viola betonicifolia in indigestion and constipation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Naveed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Najeeb ur
authors.initials: Nu
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.forename: Haroon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: Anwarul-Hassan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gilani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D007700:Kinetics; D054368:Laxatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D032413:Viola / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D054368:Laxatives; D010936:Plant Extracts