Antidiarheal activity of catechol and ethyl 5, 8,11,14,17 – icosapentanoate-rich fraction of Annona senegalensis stem bark

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Secretory diarrhea is the most common type of diarrhea. This study aimed at exploring the possible mechanism of antisecretory action of Annona senegalensis stem bark and to identify the bioactive compounds. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: The ability of three crude extract; aqueous, dichloromethane and hexane stem bark extracts to inhibit castor oil-induced stooling in albino rats were assessed. Bioactivity guided fractionation of the most active extract was done using solvent-solvent partitioning (with hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate) and column chromatography. In vitro antioxidant activity of the most active sub-fraction was done using standard methods. The most active sub-fraction (25 mg/kg b. wt.) was administered to castor oil-induced diarrheal rats. Diarrheal rats small intestinal malondialdehyde concentration, antioxidant enzyme, cyclooxygenase II and Na(+)- K(+) ATPase activities were determined using standard procedures. GC-MS analysis was done to identify the chemical compounds in the sub-fraction. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: Aqueous extract significantly decreased the number of wet stools. Sub-fraction 1 of ethylacetate fraction of aqueous stem bark extract (EFAS1) showed the highest stool inhibition. The H(2)O(2) scavenging activity of EFAS1 was significantly greater than ascorbic acid. The sub-fraction significantly increased (p < 0.05) the activity of catalase and Na(+)- K(+) ATPase activities but significantly decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde and cyclooxygenase II activity. GC-MS analysis revealed that EFAS1 is rich in catechol, n-hexadecanoic acid and ethyl-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentanoate. The sub-fraction exerts its antisecretory activity by its antioxidative, inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and stimulation of Na(+)- K(+) ATPase properties due to the presence of catechol, n-hexedecanoic acid and ethyl-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentanoate.