title: Evaluation of the anti-diarrheal activity of the aqueous stem extract of Lantana camara Linn (Verbenaceae) in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diarrheal disease remains a public health problem in developing countries, including Ethiopia. In order to alleviate this disease, Ethiopian traditional healers use a wide range of medicinal plants from which Lantana camara is one of them. The stem of this plant is traditionally used for the treatment of diarrhoea. In addition, this plant is scientifically evaluated to have an antispasmodic effect on in vitro study. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of the aqueous stem extract of L. camara Linn in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antidiarrheal activity of the extract was investigated using castor oil induced diarrhoea, enteropooling and small intestine transit models. The test groups received various doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) of the extract, whereas positive controls received Loperamide (3 mg/kg) and negative controls received distilled water (10 ml/kg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In castor oil induced diarrhoea model, the extract, at all test doses, significantly (p < 0.001) prolonged diarrhoea onset, decreased the frequency of defecation, and weight of faeces. Similarly, the extract produced a significant (p < 0.001) decline in the weight and volume of intestinal contents at all tested doses. In addition, a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in the gastrointestinal motility in charcoal meal test was also observed in all doses of the extract. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and phytosterols that may play a key role in its antidiarrheal activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results of the present study confirm antidiarrheal activity of the stem of L. camara, thus provide the scientific basis for the traditional uses of this plant as a treatment for diarrhoea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P. O, Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Edlam
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tadesse
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P. O, Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Ephrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Engidawork
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P. O, Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Teshome
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nedi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P. O, Box 235, Harar, Ethiopia. mgetnet12@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Getnet
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8367-5315
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mengistu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D032410:Lantana / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Anti-enteropooling; Antidiarrheal activity; Castor oil induced diarrhoea; Gastrointestinal motility; L. camara