title: Antidiarrhoeal investigation of Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) by modulation of Na+K+ATPase, nitrous oxide and intestinal transit in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) is an annual herb with traditional appreciation for various pharmacological properties; however, the scientific information on this herb is insufficient. The aim of the present investigation was undertaken to evaluate flavonoidal fraction of A. leptophyllum fruit (FFALF) against diarrhoea on albino rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antidiarrhoeal study was conducted by castor oil induce diarrhoea, prostaglandin E2(PGE2) induced enteropooling and intestinal transit by charcoal meal test. The rats were divided into five groups (six/group). Group I served as control and received orally 2% acacia suspension; Group II served as standard and received orally loperamide (3 mg/kg) or atropine sulphate (5 mg/kg); Group III, IV and V served as test groups and received the FFALF at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg orally, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In castor oil-induced diarrhoeal model, the FFALF significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the frequency of diarrhoea, defecation and weight of faeces as well as increased the sodium-potassium ATPase (Na+K+ATPase) activity and decreased nitric oxide (NO) content in the small intestine. In prostaglandin induced enteropooling model, it significantly (p < 0.01) and dose dependently slowed the intestinal fluid accumulation by decreasing the masses and volumes of intestinal fluid where as in charcoal meal test, it decreased charcoal meal transit in gastrointestinal tract as compared with control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study reveals that the FFALF possess anti-diarrhoeal properties mediated through inhibition of hyper secretion and gastrointestinal motility which support the traditional use of the plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Biology, Vedica College of Pharmacy, RKDF University, India. Electronic address: bhusan.himanshu@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Himanshu Bhusan
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Sahoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Sri Satya Sai Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, RKDF University, India.
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sagar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Roland Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, India.
authors.forename: Anjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Roland Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, India.
authors.forename: Amrita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhaiji
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Subrat Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhattamishra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019661:Apiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D009609:Nitrous Oxide
keywords: Apium leptophyllum; Castor oil; Enteropooling; Intestinal transit; Na(+)K(+)ATPase