title: Role of gastrointestinal motility inhibition and antioxidant properties of myrtle berries (Myrtus communis L.) juice in diarrhea treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The myrtle (Myrtus communis) belongs to the Myrtaceae family; it is one of the central plants as part of the list of medicinal plants in the Tunisian Pharmacopoeia. Myrtle berry was used for its astringent, tonic, and antiseptic properties, to treat diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and gastrointestinal injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male wistar rats were used to evaluate the normal gastro-intestinal transit and gastric emptying as well as castor oil-induced diarrhea, enteropooling tests, and small intestine oxidative stress. The effect of myrtle berries juice (MBJ) (5 and 10ml/kg, bw. p.o.) was after compared to the loperamide and clonidine effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MBJ significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the intestinal motility and gastric emptying. We also found that MBJ administration induced a significant dose-dependent protection against diarrhea and intestinal fluid accumulation. Castor oil-induced intestinal hypersecretion was accompanied by an oxidative stress status in the intestine, which was attenuated by MBJ administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that MBJ had a potent protective effects against castor oil-induced diarrhea in part due, to its antioxidant and antisecretory properties.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie Intégrée, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Zarzouna, Université de Carthage, 7021, Tunisia; Laboratoire de Physiologie Fonctionnelle et Valorisation des Bio-Ressources, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Béja, Université de Jendouba, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, B.P. 382, 9000, Béja, Tunisia. Electronic address: jabri.amino@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohamed-Amine
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jabri
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie Fonctionnelle et Valorisation des Bio-Ressources, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Béja, Université de Jendouba, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, B.P. 382, 9000, Béja, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Kais
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rtibi
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie Intégrée, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Zarzouna, Université de Carthage, 7021, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakly
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie Fonctionnelle et Valorisation des Bio-Ressources, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Béja, Université de Jendouba, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, B.P. 382, 9000, Béja, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Lamjed
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marzouki
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie Intégrée, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Zarzouna, Université de Carthage, 7021, Tunisia; Laboratoire de Physiologie Fonctionnelle et Valorisation des Bio-Ressources, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Béja, Université de Jendouba, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, B.P. 382, 9000, Béja, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hichem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sebai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D031651:Myrtus; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antisecretory properties; Intestinal motility; MBJ; Oxidative stress; Rat