1. Home
  2. Article

...

Research Paper

Laxative Effects of Aqueous Senna siamea Leaf Extract (Yellow Cassia) on the Colon following Loperamide-induced Constipation in Adult Female Wistar Rats

Peter A. Omotoyinbo, Sunday S. Adebisi, Sunday A. Musa, Sunday B. Oladele, Akinyemi A. Omoniyi

This study investigated the laxative effects of aqueous Senna siamea leaf extract (Yellow Cassia), an Asian  medicinal plant widely used in Nigerian ethno-medicine, on loperamide-induced constipation in thirty female  Wistar rats. The rats were separated into five groups (n=6) to evaluate excretion parameters, gastrointestinal transit  time, and intestinal motility. The treatments were carried out as follows; Group I received distilled water (1 ml/500  g bw), Group II received Loperamide (3 mg/kg), Group III received Loperamide (3 mg/kg) and Senna siamea  (500 mg/kg), Group IV received Loperamide (3 mg/kg) and Senna siamea (750 mg/kg), Group V received  Loperamide (3 mg/kg) and Bisacodyl 5 mg/kg (Stimulant laxative).  Constipation was successfully induced using  loperamide for four days, resulting in dry, hard, and reduced rat droppings. Treatment with the Senna siamea  extract at doses of 500 mg/kg and 750 mg/kg significantly improved the frequency, weight, and water content of  the rat droppings, comparable to the reference stimulant laxative Bisacodyl. Consequently, the aqueous Senna  siamea leaf extract effectively ameliorates the constipative effects of loperamide, supporting its traditional use for  gastrointestinal ailments. 

Key Words: Senna siamea, Loperamide, Bisacodyl, Constipation, GITT (gastrointestinal transit time) 

Download PDF