ABSTRACT
The effect of Masfon-Aloe vera drink on intestinal transit and motility was investigated in this study. Thirty (30) albino Wistar rats were divided into 2 batches of 15 rats each, batch 1 for intestinal motility, and batch 2 for intestinal transit experiments. Each batch was further divided into three groups of 5 rats each (control, low dose and high dose). All groups were fed with normal rat chow and water for 21 days. In addition, the control received 0.3 ml of normal saline (0.9% NaCl solution) while the low dose (LD) and high dose (HD) experimental groups received Masfon Aloe vera drink (1 ml and 3 ml/kg body weight orally, once daily respectively). The study was carried out at the Department of Physiology, University of Calabar, Nigeria. At the end of the study duration, intestinal motility and transit studies were conducted. Result for intestinal motility showed the extract (Masfon-Aloe vera drink), at either low or high dose did not significantly change the frequency and amplitude of the spontaneous contraction (basal contraction) of the rat ileum when compared with the control. Graded concentrations of Acetylcholine (10-8 to 10-4) was observed to produce a dose dependent increase in contraction of the rat ileum which was significantly (p<0.001) greater in the LD and HD groups at lower concentrations of 10-8 and 10-7M. The mean percentage intestinal transit which was not significantly different (p = 0.226, p=0.892) among the groups was 42.16 ± 2.63 in the low dose, 37.75 ± 5.15 in the high dose groups compared to 36.91 ± 3.01 in the control. Administration of atropine produced significantly higher (p<0.01) relaxations in the LD (5.00 ± 0.41 mm) and HD groups compared with control [relaxation in mm, mean ± SEM (2.25 ± 0.25) in control vs (5.00 ± 0.41) and (10.75 ± 0.25) in LD and HD respectively]. Masfon-Aloe vera drink administered at these concentrations “did” not significantly alter the basal motility and transit of the rat ileum, but was observed to potentiate Ach induced contraction of the rat ileum, and also “augmented” the relaxant effect of atropine.