title: Cryptocoryne spiralis, a substitute of Aconitum heterophyllum in the treatment of diarrhoea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To scientifically validate the traditional substitution of roots of highly expensive Aconitum heterophyllum (AH) with rhizomes of Cryptocoryne spiralis (CS) in the treatment of diarrhoea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Different fractions from root/rhizome extract of both the plant were subjected to faecal excretion rate and castor oil-induced diarrhoea models. Further, bioactive fractions from both plants, i.e. chloroform (CAH) from AH at 50 mg/kg p.o. and ethyl acetate (EACS) from CS at 100 mg/kg p.o., were examined for small intestinal transit, intestinal fluid accumulation and PGE2 -induced enteropooling models in rats. Biochemical estimations and Na(+) and K(+) concentration in intestinal fluid were also determined along with antibacterial studies. Phytochemical standardisation of AH and CS was performed by quantifying aconitine for the former and stigmasterol for the latter using HPLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CAH and EACS illustrated a significant reduction in faecal output rate and demonstrated a protection of 63.068% at CAH 50 and 59.090% at EACS 100 mg/kg p.o. in castor oil-induced diarrhoea model. The fractions also persuaded promising effects in all the other models, restored alterations in biochemical parameters and showed potential antibacterial activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The antidiarrhoeal potential of AH and CS may be attributed to an antimotility and antisecretory type of effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Maharashtra, India; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Satyendra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Damiki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laloo
authors.forename: Alakh N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.forename: Gopal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.forename: Siva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hemalatha
mesh_terms: D031841:Aconitum / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D029064:Araceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002368:Castor Oil / Q000494:pharmacology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002368:Castor Oil
keywords: Aconitum heterophyllum; Cryptocoryne spiralis; antibacterial activity; antidiarrhoeal activity; castor oil-induced diarrhoea