by Sade Oguntola, Tribune
Since ancient times, diarrhoea has been recognised as one of the most important health issues world wide, particularly afflicting those populations of socio-economically backward classes and third-world countries.
Globally, about 2.2 million people have been killed annually by diarrhoea, majority of them being infants and children below the age of five years. Unfortunately, the incidence of diarrheal disease still remains high despite the effort by many government and international organisations to reduce it.
Diarrhoea is characterised by rapid passage of semisolid or watery stool, three or more times in a day with severe or light abdominal pain and bowel sounds. It is caused either by intake of polluted water, consumption of contaminated food or through physical contact like handshake.
Use of traditional medicines to combat the consequences of diarrhoea has been emphasised by World Health Organisation(WHO) in its Diarrhoea Control Programme, thus the importance of identifying and evaluating available natural drugs as alternatives to current anti-diarrhoeal drugs, which are not always free from adverse effects.
Several studies have shown the beneficial effects of a number of medicinal plants used traditionally in the treatment of diarrheal disease. One of such are mango leaves.
Leaves of mango tree have a long history of indigenous use, as an anti-diarrhoeal agent among others, without any scientific study that has substantiated or refuted this claim.
In a new study, scientists testing out water extract made from leaves of mango tree in female albino rats under laboratory conditions and found that it has a comparative effectiveness with conventional medicines used in treating diarrhoea.
The scientists found that the extract decreased the number, water content, fresh weight and total number of wet feaces and increased the inhibition of defecations. But the 100 mg/kg body weight of the extract exhibiting the most profound antidiarrhoeal activity.
For the study, the chemical content of the water extract of mango leaves was determined. Also, female albino rats were assigned into five groups containing five animals each, some serving as control for the study and others receiving different amounts of the water extract of mango leaves.
This 2015 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology was entitled “Antidiarrhoeal activity of aqueous extract of Mangifera indica L. leaves in female albino rats.” It was carried out by M.T. Yakubu and S.S. Salimon, at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin.
In south-western part of Nigeria, different parts of the mango tree are commonly used for herbal preparations in the treatment of many conditions, including toothache, gastrointestinal disorders, dynsentery, diarrhoea, sore gums and sore throats.
In Uganda, leaf extracts of mango tree has been shown to possess some antibacterial activity and has been the basis for their medicinal use. In South America and other parts of the world, the ashes of the leaves are used as a dusting powder over burns, scalds and other similar complaints.
The leaves are useful for toning up the gums by masticating them. Gargles of decoction of mango leaves and barks are also beneficial as a mouthwash for toothache, sore gums and sore throat and similar health problems.
Its kernel is used medicinally for various ailments, including dysentery, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids and roundworm infestation. Also, the decoction of dried bark of mango is used for diabetes, diarrhoea, scabies, anaemia and toothache.
Previously, studies have also corroborated the usefulness of leaves of mango in combination with leaves of other medicinal plants such as Ficus bengalensis for treatment of diarrhoea.
Researchers, reporting in the 2014 edition of the journal, International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research, stated that their extracts significantly reduced the total number of stool and number of diarrhoeal stool in a dose-dependent manner when compared with the untreated control.
In this study, mice with castor oil-induced diarrhoea were treated with the extract at three different doses and the stool consistency was observed for a period of four hours.
The researchers reasoned that the chemical substances in both the extract of mango and Ficus bengalensis (Banyan) may have either inhibited intestinal motility, support more water retention in the colon or absorption back into the body, thus its anti-diarrhoeal activity and proving its ethnomedicinal usage.
Similarly, other researchers named guava leaves, Momordica balsamina, Sanseviera liberica root, Piliostigma reticulatum bark, Xylocarpus granatum bark, Stachytarpheta indica and Rauwolfia serpentina as medicinal plants that people use in treating diarrhoeal.
Sanseviera liberica, commonly called mother-in-law’s tongue (from the sharp pointed leaf) is refered to as òòjá ikòòokò in Yoruba; guru in Hausa and òòkòònòò ékpè in Efik. Piliostigma reticulatum is commonly called in Yoruba: ‘abafin’; in Hausa: ‘kalgo’ and in Igbo: okpo atu’.
Momordica balsamina is locally known as Balsam apple (English), Garahuni (Hausa), Akbon-ndewe (Igbo) and Ejirin (Yoruba).
Stachytarpheta indica is known locally as snake weed (English), Tsarkiyar kusu (Hausa); Õr amure (Yoruba), Brazilian tea and devilís couch.
Rauwolfia serpentine is called asofeyeje (Yoruba), akanta (Igbo language) and wada (Hausa). The plant is of different species. The Indian species is called Rauvolfia serpentina. The African species of the plant is called Rauwolfia vomitoria.
The researchers found that the diarrheal property of many of these medicinal plants was based on the dose administered.
Previously, researchers reported in a 2012 edition of the African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines that the extract of Piliostigma reticulatumstem (the bark) was effective to stop diarrhoea.
Also, the water extract of the leaves of guava is used traditionally in African folk medicine to manage, control and/or treat a plethora of human ailments, including diarrhoea. Researchers corroborated its effectiveness in the 2008 edition of the Journal of Smooth Muscle Research.
In a study to evaluate the antidiarrhoeal property of methanol extract of the leaves of Rauwolfia serpentina (R. serpentina) in experimental diarrhoea,
The results show that the extract of R. serpentina leaves has a significant antidiarrhoeal activity and supports its traditional uses in herbal medicine.
Source: Tribune