Antidiarrhoeal potentials of methanol flower-head and leaf extracts of Spilanthes Filicaulis in castor oil-induced Rats

Abstract

Diarrhoea remains a prevalent and challenging health issue worldwide. Traditional medicine often employs plant extracts for treatment, yet scientific validation of their efficacy is essential. This study investigates the antidiarrhoeal potential of methanol extracts from the flower-head and leaf of Spilanthes filicaulis using a castor oil-induced diarrhoea model in rats. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the extracts was conducted to identify key constituents. Adult albino mice and Wistar rats were used in this study, acclimatized for seven days, and maintained with standard feed and water. Spilanthes filicaulis was collected, authenticated, and its flower-heads and leaves were dried, powdered, and extracted with 80% methanol. The extracts were filtered, concentrated, and stored at 4°C. Acute toxicity was assessed in 42 mice with doses ranging from 10 to 5000 mg/kg bw, revealing no deaths. Antidiarrhoeal activity was evaluated by pretreating rats with different doses (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg) of the extracts and measuring the frequency of defecation and gastrointestinal motility. Gastrointestinal motility was measured using charcoal meal. Data were analyzed with ANOVA in SPSS, with significance at p < 0.05. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, and other compounds in both extracts, with higher concentrations in the leaf extract. The acute toxicity test indicated no fatalities, suggesting safety up to 5000 mg/kg bw. In the antidiarrhoeal assay, the flower-head extract exhibited greater efficacy with a maximum inhibition of 73.91% compared to 30.43% for the leaf extract. Gastrointestinal motility tests showed that the extracts could modulate transit, though the changes were not statistically significant across all doses. The methanol extracts of Spilanthes filicaulis flower-head and leaf demonstrate significant antidiarrhoeal activity, with the flower-head extract showing superior efficacy. The study supports the potential of these extracts as natural remedies for diarrhoea and underscores the need for further research to confirm their clinical benefits and mechanisms of action.

Keywords: Spilanthes filicaulis, methanol extract, antidiarrhoeal, castor oil-induced diarrhoea, gastrointestinal motility