Assessment of the antidiarrhoeal properties of the aqueous extract and its soluble fractions of Chebulae Fructus (Terminalia chebula fruits)

Abstract

Context Chebulae Fructus is used as an herbal remedy for diarrhoea in traditional Chinese medicine. However, there is no scientific evidence to support its antidiarrhoeal activity. Objective This study evaluates the antidiarrhoeal properties of Chebulae Fructus aqueous extract (CFAE) and determines the active fraction. Materials and methods The antidiarrhoeal effect of CFAE (200-800 mg/kg) was investigated by determining the wet dropping, intestinal transit in BALB/c mice and enteropooling in Wister rats. The protective effects of the CFAE on the intestinal and liver were tested by histopathological analyses. The antidiarrhoeal fraction was determined by castor oil-induced diarrhoea and its main constituents were identified by HPLC-ESI-MS.Results The extract at doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg reduced the diarrhoea by 9.1, 40.0 and 58.2% and inhibited intestinal transit by 18.3, 24.1 and 35.7%, respectively. Additionally, the CFAE (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) decreased the volume of enteropooling by 47.1, 58.8 and 64.7%, respectively. Mice treated with castor oil presented morphological alterations in the small intestine and the liver. However, the lesions of mice treated with CFAE were alleviated. Moreover, the ethyl acetate fraction was the active fraction of CFAE, the fraction (41.7, 83.4 and 166.8 mg/kg) reduced the diarrhoea by 9.1, 38.2 and 54.5%, respectively. The major components of the ethyl acetate fraction were tannins, including gallic acid, 3, 4, 6-tri-O-galloyl-b-D-Glc, corilagin and ellagic acid according to the HPLC-ESI-MS analysis. Conclusion The CFAE possessed antidiarrhoeal property and the ethyl acetate fraction was its main active fraction. ARTICLE HISTORY

Antidiarrheal effect of bioactivity‐guided fractions and bioactive components of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peels

“…A combination of these compounds in the given amounts could mediate the antidiarrheal activities of the EAF. Our results with pomegranate peels are similar to our results in a previous report showing that the main active constituents in Terminalia chebula fruits were corilagin and ellagic acid . Additionally, another report in the literature also showed that corilagin and ellagic acid are the 2 main components contributing to the antidiarrheal effect of Polygonum chinense Linn .…”

“…Our results with pomegranate peels are similar to our results in a previous report showing that the main active constituents in Terminalia chebula fruits were corilagin and ellagic acid. 41 Additionally, another report in the literature also showed that corilagin and ellagic acid are the 2 main components contributing to the antidiarrheal effect of Polygonum chinense Linn. 29 Our reports and those of others indicate that these classes of compounds have antidiarrheal activities.…”

The Modern Use of an Ancient Plant: Exploring the Antioxidant and Nutraceutical Potential of the Maltese Mushroom (Cynomorium Coccineum L.)

“…For example, gallic acid has been reported to possess wound healing properties [31] and constipating properties. Similar properties have been reported for fruits of other plants; for example, Terminalia chebula fruits, used as an herbal remedy for diarrhea in traditional Chinese medicine, also contain tannins, including gallic acid and related glycoside derivatives, as major components of the ethyl acetate fraction [32].…”

Antidiarrheal effect of extract from the bark of Combretum leprosum in mice

“…The present study has demonstrated and characterized the effect of an aqueous suspension of the hydroalcoholic extract of bark from the (Sheng et al 2016). However, distinctively from these extracts, which inhibit the fluid accumulation in the intestinal lumen induced by castor oil, as seen in enteropooling assays in rats, eCl did not alter misoprostol-induced fluid build-up.…”