Pharmacological evaluation of Dactyloctenium aegyptium: An indigenous plant used to manage gastrointestinal ailments

Abstract

<p>Crude extract of <em>Dactylotenium aegyptium</em> and its fractions were evaluated to rationalize its folkloric use in gastrointestinal ailments. In spontaneous contracting rabbit jejunum preparation, D. aegyptium exert concentration-dependent spasmogenic effect (0.01-0.1 mg/mL) followed by spasmolytic effect at higher doses (0.3-3.0 mg/mL). Pretreatment of the tissue preparations with atropine resulted in suppression of the spasmogenic response. Furthermore, <em>D. aegyptium</em> (1.0 mg/mL) caused relaxation of K⁺(80 mM)-induced spastic contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations and there was non-parallel shift in Ca⁺⁺ dose response curves towards right (0.1-0.3 mg/mL). These findings were found to be comparable with verapamil, a standard Ca⁺⁺ channel blocker. The solvent-solvents fractionation reflected segregations of spasmogenic and spasmolytic effects in respective aqueous and dichloromethane fractions. The above-mentioned findings reflected, presence of cholinergic as well as Ca⁺⁺ channel blocking activity in ethanolic extract of <em>D. aegyptium</em> thus providing scientific basis for its folkloric use in constipation and diarrhea.</p><p> </p><p> </p>