title: Experimental assessment of antidiarrheal and antisecretory activity of 80% methanolic leaf extract of Zehneria scabra in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The leaf of Zehneria scabra is traditionally used for the management of diarrhea in Ethiopia. Its use, however, has not been scientifically validated for safety and efficacy. The aim of this study was to investigate antidiarrheal and antisecretory effects of hydroalcolic leaf extract of Z. scabra in mice models.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each of antidiarrheal, gastrointestinal motility and antisecretory activity study Swiss albino mice were divided in to five groups. Group I was treated as control group and received 10 ml/kg of 2% Tween-80 orally; Group II served as a positive control and took standard drug in each of the experiments orally; Group III, IV and V were test groups which received the methanolic extract orally at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Depending on the model total weight of fecal output, total weight of wet feces, total number of fecal output, number of wet faeces, length of intestinal transit and intestinal weight were collected. Finally, data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In castor oil induced diarrhea model, the extract dose produced a significant reduction in mean stool score (1.94 ± 0.102) at 200 mg/kg. Moreover, the 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg doses inhibited stool frequency by 40, 45 and 55%, respectively. All test doses of extract and loperamide (3mg/kg) reduced fecal fluid content significantly (p<0.01). The 100 mg/kg dose of extract produced 25.74% reduction of fluid content (p<0.001) while both 200 and 400 mg/kg showed 29.70 % (p<0.001) compared to negative control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extract of Zehineria scabra showed antidiarrheal and antisecretory activity in mice model. Moreover, the extract found to be safe at dose of 2000mg/kg in mice model. The findings suggest the validity of the acclaimed effect of Zehineria scabra as antidiarrheal agent in Ethiopian traditional herbal medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. mail2wondm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wondmagegn Tamiru
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Tadesse
authors.forename: Abebe Ejigu
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hailu
authors.forename: Abyot Endale
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gurmu
authors.forename: Abraham Fikru
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Mechesso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002368:Castor Oil; D019662:Cucurbitaceae; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005002:Ethiopia; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008139:Loperamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008139:Loperamide; D002368:Castor Oil