Gastrointestinal tract profile of laboratory animals treated with ethanol extract of Acacia ataxacantha (Leguminosae) D.C. stem bark

Abstract

Acacia ataxacantha and its various parts had been documented as herbal remedy for treatment of pain, stomach ailments and dysentery. The major processes occurring in the GI system are: motility, secretion, regulation, digestion and circulation. Abnormal motility or abnormal sensitivity in any part of the gastrointestinal tract can cause characteristic symptoms and hence induce disease(s) in the GIT. The study is aimed at investigating the GIT profile of animals treated with the ethanol extract to validate the ethno-botanical use in the treatment of diseases of the stomach. The methods employed include; ethanol/HCl-induced ulcer in rats, gastrointestinal motility and charcoal screening test in rats, and isolated rabbit ileum test. The ethanol extract of Acacia ataxacantha stem-bark significantly (p ≤ 0.05) and dose dependently reduces the ulcer induced by 40% and 60% at doses of 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight respectively, when compared with the normal saline control group. The groups pre-treated with ethanol extract exhibited a significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in the distance travelled by charcoal meal and a considerable increased gastro intestinal transit time, in a dose dependent manner, in the charcoal meal transit test. Administration of ethanol extract of Acacia ataxacantha stem-bark on rabbit ileum at lower concentrations of (1mg/ml), (10 mg/ml) and (100 mg/ml) produced no observed pharmacologic effect, while at higher concentration of 200 mg/ml, a relaxation was observed on the isolated rabbit ileum test. The ethanol extract of Acacia ataxacantha stem-bark possess GIT anti-motility and gastro protective effect. Keywords: Acacia ataxacantha; GIT Motility; Ulcer