title: Anti-diarrhoeal and anti-microbial activity of Flos populi (male inflorescence of Populus tomentosa Carrière) aqueous extracts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Flos populi (male inflorescence of Populus tomentosa Carrière) has been traditionally used in East Asian countries for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases, strengthening the spleen and stomach, anti-rheumatic, anti-tumor and anti-diarrhoeal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the in vivo or in vitro anti-diarrhoeal and anti-microbial activity of Flos populi aqueous extract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute toxicity of Flos populi aqueous extract (FPAE) was investigated. Castor oil-induced diarrhoea method was used to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal activity, inhibition of defecation and diarrhoea were determined in mice, effects on castor oil-induced enteropooling, intestinal transit and intestinal fluid secretion in rats or mice. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of FPAE against strains of three clinical bacterial isolates and one reference strain were used to test the anti-microbial activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FPAE reduced the frequency of diarrhoea episodes and decreased the propulsion of charcoal meal through the gastrointestinal tract in a dose dependent manner. FPAE (100-500 mg/kg, p.o.) produced dose-dependent and significant (P<0.01) protection of mice against castor oil-induced diarrhoea. FPAE, dose-dependently and significantly (P< 0.01) delayed the onset of castor-oil induced diarrhoea, decreased the frequency of defecation, and reduced the severity of diarrhoea. Compared with control animals, FPAE, dose-dependently and significantly (P< 0.01) decreased the volume of castor oil-induced intestinal fluid secretion, and reduced the number, weight and wetness of faecal droppings. There was no deaths or abnormalities in behaviour seen in the acute toxicity test. The aqueous extract displayed anti-microbial effects to three species of bacteria in anti-microbial test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study indicate that FPAE possesses anti-diarrhoeal property in rats and mice and confirm the ethnomedicinal use of Flos Populi as a valuable natural remedy for the treatment, management and/or control of diarrhoea. These results may support the fact that this plant is traditionally used to cure diarrhoea.
authors.affiliation: Shandong Binzhou Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Academy, Binzhou 256600, China. qianqian19830125@163.com
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yubo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shijin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yanping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chunfeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002368:Castor Oil / Q000737:chemistry; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000178:diet therapy; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects; D056626:Inflorescence / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032107:Populus / Q000737:chemistry*; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D002368:Castor Oil