ABSTRACT
This article describes the dataset for the elucidation of the possible mechanisms of antidiarrhoeal actions of methanol leaves extract of Combretum hypopilinum (Diels) Combretaceae in mice. The plant has been used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhoea in Nigeria and other African countries. We introduce the data for the antidiarrhoeal activity of the methanol leaf extract of Combretum hypopilinum at 1,000 mg/kg investigated using charcoal meal test in mice with loperamide (5 mg/kg) as the standard antidiarrhoeal agent. To elucidate the possible mechanisms of its antidiarrhoeal action, naloxone (2 mg/kg), prazosin (1 mg/kg), yohimbine (2 mg/kg), propranolol (1 mg/kg), pilocarpine (1 mg/kg) and isosorbide dinitrate (150 mg/kg) were separately administered to different groups of mice 30 minutes before administration of the extract. Each mouse was dissected using dissecting set, and the small intestine was immediately removed from pylorus to caecum, placed lengthwise on moist filter paper and measured the distance travelled by charcoal relative to the length of the intestine using a calibrated ruler in centimetre. Besides, the peristaltic index and inhibition of charcoal movement of each animal were calculated and recorded. The methods for the data collection is similar to the one used to investigate the possible pathways involved in the antidiarrhoeal action of Combretum hypopilinum in mice in the research article by Ahmad et al. (2020) "Mechanisms of Antidiarrhoeal Activity of Methanol Leaf Extract of Combretum hypopilinum Diels (Combretaceae): Involvement of Opioidergic and (α1 and ß)-Adrenergic Pathways" (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113750) [1]. Therefore, this datasets could form a basis for in-depth research to elucidate further the pharmacological properties of the plant Combretum hypopilinum and its bioactive compounds to develop standardized herbal product and novel compound for management of diarrhoea. It could also be instrumental for evaluating the plant's pharmacological potentials using other computational-based and artificial intelligence approaches, including predictive modelling and simulation.
ABSTRACT
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The plant Combretum hypopilinum Diels (Combretaceae) is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diarrhoea and other diseases in Africa. Previously, the antidiarrhoeal activity of its methanol leaf extract was reported. However, the mechanism(s) responsible for this activity is yet to be evaluated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to elucidate the possible mechanism(s) of antidiarrhoeal activity of methanol leaf extract of Combretum hypopilinum (MECH) in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phytochemical screening and acute toxicity study were conducted according to standard methods. Adult mice were orally (p.o) administered distilled water (10 ml/kg), MECH (1000 mg/kg) and loperamide (5 mg/kg). The probable mechanisms of antidiarrhoeal activity of MECH were investigated following pretreatment with naloxone (2 mg/kg, subcutaneously), prazosin (1 mg/kg, s.c), yohimbine (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), propranolol (1 mg/kg, i.p), pilocarpine (1 mg/kg, s.c) and isosorbide dinitrate (150 mg/kg, p.o) 30 min before administration of MECH (1000 mg/kg). The mice were then subjected to castor oil-induced intestinal motility test. RESULTS: The oral median lethal dose (LD50) of MECH was found to be higher than 5000 mg/kg. There were significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the charcoal movement in the mice treated with the MECH (1000 mg/kg) and loperamide (5 mg/kg). The pretreatment of the mice with naloxone, prazosin and propranolol each significantly (p<0.05) reversed the antidiarrhoeal activity produced by MECH. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study suggest the probable involvement of opioidergic and (α1 and ß)-adrenergic systems in the antidiarrhoeal activity of the methanol leaf extract of Combretum hypopilinum.
