Antiamoebic and spasmolytic activities of extracts from some antidiarrhoeal traditional preparations used in Kinshasa, Congo.
Tona L., Kambu K., Ngimbi N., Mesia K., Penge O., Lusakibanza M., Cimanga K., Bruyne T. de, Apers S., Totte J., Pieters L., Vlietinck A. J.
Author Affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Kinshasa, Congo Democratic Republic.
Phytomedicine 7 : 31-38
Abstract : Extracts of some traditional preparations, based on medicinal plants, used as antidiarrhoeal agents were investigated for their putative antiamoebic and spasmolytic activities in vitro. Results indicated that both biological activities are concentrated in the polyphenolic fraction, and not in the saponin or alkaloid containing fractions. The most active polyphenolic extracts were those from Euphorbia hirta whole plant, leaves of Alchornea cordifolia, Crossopteryx febrifuga, Nauclea latifolia, Psidium guajava, Tithonia diversifolia, stem bark of Harungana madagascariensis, Mangifera indica, Maprounea africana and Psidium guajava. These extracts inhibited Entamoeba histolytica growth (MLCs of 10 µg/ml). The same extracts, at a concentration of 80 µg/ml in an organ bath, also exhibited more than 70% inhibition of acetylcholine- and/or KCl-induced contractions of isolated guineapig ileum.