Croton grewioides Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) shows antidiarrheal activity in mice

Abstract

Based on chemotaxonomy, we decided to investigate the possible antidiarrheal activity in mice of a crude ethanolic extract obtained from aerial parts of Croton grewioides (CG-EtOH). We tested for any possible toxicity in rat erythrocytes and acute toxicity in mice. Antidiarrheal activity was assessed by determining the effect of CG-EtOH on defecation frequency, liquid stool, intestinal motility and intestinal fluid accumulation. CG-EtOH showed no in vitro cytotoxicity and was not orally lethal. In contrast, the extract given intraperitoneally (at 2000 mg/kg) was lethal, but only in females. CG-EtOH produced a significant and equipotent antidiarrheal activity, both in defecation frequency (ED50 = 106.0 ± 8.1 mg/kg) and liquid stools (ED50 = 105.0 ± 9.2 mg/kg). However, CG-EtOH (125 mg/kg) decreased intestinal motility by only 22.7% ± 4.4%. Moreover, extract markedly inhibited the castor oil-induced intestinal contents (ED50 = 34.6 ± 5.4 mg/kg). We thus conclude that CG-EtOH is not orally lethal and contains active principles with antidiarrheal activity, and this effect seems to involve mostly changes in intestinal secretion.SUMMARY CG-EtOH showed no in vitro cytotoxicity and was not orally lethal. In contrast, the extract given intraperitoneally (at 2000 mg/kg) was lethal, but only in females.CG-EtOH probably contains active metabolites with antidiarrheal activity.CG-EtOH reduced the frequency and number of liquid stools.Metabolites presents in the CG-EtOH act mainly by reducing intestinal fluid and, to a lesser extent, reducing intestinal motility. Abbreviations Used: CG-EtOH: crude ethanolic extract obtained from the aerial parts of C. grewioides; WHO: World Health Organization; ED50: dose of a drug that produces 50% of its maximum effect; Emax: maximum effect

Anticancer Potential of the Leaf Extracts from the Selected Croton Species

“…Other species of croton showed that a dose of 2000 mg/kg b.w. of C. grewioides extract caused mortality to mice (Silva et al 2016), while Croton polyandrus essential oil induced mortality at equivalent to 447.18 mg/kg b.w. (Meireles et al 2016).…”

Biological studies and chromatograms aided by chemometric analysis in evaluation of seasonality and extraction method of Croton grewioides extracts

“…The species C. grewioides Baill., belonging to the genus Croton, the second largest genus of the Euphorbiaceae family, with more than 1300 registered species, is endemic in the northeast of Brazil, being found in several Brazilian states, and is distributed throughout the caatinga biome. Known locally as "canelinha-de-cheiro," the tea made from the leaves and branches of this species has been popularly used for the treatment of influenza, coughs, fevers, and headache (Silva et al 2016a;Prado et al 2021). Most of the reported studies concerning this species have investigated the essential oil, which has shown characteristic activities including pupicidal, larvicidal, insecticidal, and bactericidal (Silva et al 2016a;Medeiros et al 2017;Castro el al.…”

“…Known locally as "canelinha-de-cheiro," the tea made from the leaves and branches of this species has been popularly used for the treatment of influenza, coughs, fevers, and headache (Silva et al 2016a;Prado et al 2021). Most of the reported studies concerning this species have investigated the essential oil, which has shown characteristic activities including pupicidal, larvicidal, insecticidal, and bactericidal (Silva et al 2016a;Medeiros et al 2017;Castro el al. 2019).…”

“…Many species of Croton display anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antirheumatic, antiulcerogenic, antispasmodic, antidiabetic, anticholinesterasic, and analgesic activities, among others (Silva et al 2016a;Palmeira Júnior et al 2006). Antitumor activity has been found for essential oils from C. regelianus and C. flavens, as well as for some compounds isolated from C. flavens leaf oils (Sylvestre et al 2006;Bezerra et al 2009).…”

Microscopic Characterization of Croton cordiifolius Baill. (Euphorbiaceae)

“…In Brazil, among Euphorbiaceae Family members, this genus has the highest number of ethnopharmacological uses, followed by Euphorbia and Jatropha. 7 Among the proven pharmacological activities can be highlighted antioxidant, 2,8 anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive, 9 leishmanicidal, 10 antidiarrheal, 11 antiulcer, 12 anti-atherogenic and anti-ischemic, 13 cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic and weight loss actions. [14][15][16][17] Due to the chemical compounds already described for many Croton species, such as mono and sesquiterpenes, diterpenoids, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids, it can be characterized as a promising source of bioactive molecules and as a remarkable potential for research.…”