Pharmacological evaluation of the medicinal plants, pelargonium triste (l), elytropappus rhinocerotis (l.f), and olea europaea africana (mill.) for antidiarrhoeal activity in mice

Abstract

Three medicinal plant species, Pelargonium triste (L.), Elytropappus rhinocerof,s (L.F.), and Olea europaea africana (Mill.), commonly used in the Western Cape traditional medicine to treat various ailments were assessed for activity against castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice. The chemical composition and the high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of the plant extracts were also investigated. At the doses of 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, and 75 mg/kg all the plant extracts significantly (p< 0.05) reduced the number of diarrhoeal episodes in mice. At the doses of 50 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg the P. frisfe and E. rhinocerofis aqueous extracts significantly reduced the total diarrhoeal stool mass, and also significantly delayed the onset of diarrhoea in mice. The effect of P. fnsfe against castor oil-induced diarrhoea was dose dependent. Olea europaea africana did not significantly alter the onset of diarrhoea or the total diarrhoeal stool mass.

The data obtained indicate that P. triste, E. rhinocerofis, and O. europaea africana possess anti-diarrhoeal properties, which justify their use in the Western Cape by traditional medicines practitioners to treat diarrhoea. The data also show that all three plant-species contain tannins and saponins. In addition, P. triste and O. europaea africana contain reducing sugars, where as E. rhinocerolzs contains cardiac glycosides.