Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial, radical-scavenging and antidiarrheal properties of Tristemma hirtum.
Methods: The methanol extract of Tristemma hirtum was prepared by successive fractionation in hexane and ethyl acetate solvents. The phytochemical composition of crude extract and fractions was studied using standard methods. Their antimicrobial activities were evaluated against Gram-negative and Gram-positive species of pathogenic bacteria using the broth-microdilution method. The kinetics of 2,2 Diphenyl 1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) free radical scavenging activity was also studied in vitro. The anti-diarrhoeal properties of the ethyl acetate fraction of T. hirtum were evaluated in vivo by the Shigella-induced and functional castor oil-induced diarrhoeal models in Wistar rats.
Results: The antibacterial assays showed that the crude extract and its fractions presented antibacterial activities with Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) varying between 128 and 2048 µg/ml. The extracts also presented radical-scavenging activities with inhibitory percentages comparable (p≤0.05) to those of L-ascorbic acid against the DPPH •. The ethyl acetate fraction of T. hirtum presented the highest antibacterial activity on S. flexneri (with a MIC value of 128 µg/ml). The in vivo studies revealed that this fraction may inhibit shigella-induced diarrhoea in rats after six days of treatment. The same fraction almost completely reduced castor-oil diarrhoea for doses ≥ 400 mg/kg.
Conclusion: Methanol extract of T. hirtum and its fractions possess antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and confirm its usage in the treatment of various diseases such as infectious diseases and diarrhea.
Keywords: Tristemma hirtum; antimicrobial; antioxidant; antidiarrheal; diarrhea; infectious diarrhea.
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