Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- Bushirat Oyenike Fagbohun 1
- Hassan Abdulsalam Adewuyi 2
- Maryam Musa 3
- Ojochenemi Nora Unuata 2
- Ochonung Emmanuel Ogar 4
- Agor Emmanuel Achi 5
- Usman Abiola Mohammed 6
- Jaiyeola Tolulope Olukayode 7
1 Department of Pharmacy Technician, Ogun State College of Science and Technology, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Nigeria
2 Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
3 Department of Biochemistry, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja Nigeria
4 Department of Biochemistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
5 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Cross River, Calaber, Nigeria
6 Department of Biological Sciences, Ahman Pategi University, Pategi kwara State, Nigeria
7 Department of Biochenistry and Molecular Biology, Crawford University Igbesa, Lagos-Abeokuta Express Way, Ogun State, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Gastrointestinal disorders are prevalent worldwide, necessitating effective and safe therapeutic options. The use of herbal medicine dates back thousands of years, with various cultures employing plants to treat ailments. Albizia lebbeck and Curcuma longa extracts have traditional uses in managing gastrointestinal issues.
Methods: This study evaluated the effects of Albizia lebbeck and Curcuma longa extracts on gastrointestinal motility, safety, and hematological parameters in rats. The study was done at Federal University of Technology Minna, in September 2024, Minna Niger, State Nigeria. Gastrointestinal motility was assessed using gastric emptying rate and intestinal transit time. Safety was evaluated through sub-chronic toxicity studies, including liver and kidney function tests and hematology parameters.
Results: Albizia lebbeck and Curcuma longa extracts significantly enhanced gastrointestinal motility and antioxidant activity (p<0.05), improved liver function (ALT: -15.4 %, AST: -12.5 %), and kidney function (creatinine: -10.3 %, urea: -9.5 %). Hematology parameters showed significant increases in hemoglobin (+8.5 %) and lymphocyte percentage (+11.9 %). No significant toxicity was observed in bodyweight, hematology, biochemistry or organ weight.
Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate the prokinetic effects of Albizia lebbeck and Curcuma longa extracts on gastrointestinal motility in rats. The active ingredients of these herbal extracts may contribute to their prokinetic effects by modulating gut motility and secretion. The combination therapy potentiated the prokinetic effects, suggesting a synergistic interaction between the two herbal extracts. These findings support the traditional use of these herbal remedies in managing gastrointestinal disorders, with a favorable safety profile. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms underlying these effects and to confirm their safety and efficacy in human clinical trials.
Keywords
Main Subjects
- Patel S, Patel V, Patel M. Pharmacological evaluation of Albizia lebbeck: A review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2017;206:147-56.
- Srivastava S, Singh R, Tripathi A. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Curcuma longa. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011;137(1):261-67
- Grigoleit HG, Grigoleit P. Peppermint oil in irritable bowel syndrome. Phytomedicine. 2005;12(8):601-6.
- Iwu MM. Handbook of African medicinal plants. 2014;Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
- Kaur R, Kaur H, Dhindsa AS. Curcuma longa: A review of its pharmacological and therapeutic properties. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2018;70(8):1023-34.
- Kumar S, Singh A, Kumar B. Evaluation of Albizia lebbeck extract on gastrointestinal motility in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018;211:111-18.
- Lien HC, Sun WM, Chen YH, Kim H, Hasler W, Owyang C. Effects of ginger on motion sickness and gastric slow-wave dysrhythmias induced by circular vection. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2003;90(3-4):383-88.
- Prucksunand C, Indrasukhsri B, Leethochawalit M, Hungspreugs K. Phase II clinical trial on effect of the long turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn) on healing of peptic ulcer. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2001;32(1):208-15.
- Guideline for Testing of Chemicals, Section 4, No. 408: Repeated Dose 90-Day Oral Toxicity Study in Rodents. 2018.
- Liu Y, Wang X, Zhang L. Safety evaluation of Curcuma longa extract in rats: A 90-day sub-chronic toxicity study. Food Chem Toxicol. 2020;138:111193.
- Kumar P, Sharma S, Gupta R. Pharmacological review on Albizia lebbeck. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2017;69(8):961-71.
- Liao J, Li Q, Cao J. Curcuminoids from Curcuma longa: A review of their pharmacological and therapeutic applications. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018;211:345-55.
- Sallam H, Al-Sharari SD, Al-Rejaie SS. Gastrointestinal motility and its regulation. J Clin Transl Res. 2018;4(2):53-63.
- Liao J, Li Q, Cao J. Safety evaluation of Curcuma longa extract in rats. Journalof Food Science. 2020;85(2), S388-S395.
- Sallam H, Al-Sharari SD, Al-Rejaie SS. The effect of Curcuma longa extract on gastrointestinal motility in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2019;231, 145-51.
)