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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extract of the aerial part of Rubia cordifolia

Authors: Xue-Peng Gong, Yuan-Yuan Sun, Wei Chen, Xia Guo, Jian-Kun Guan, Dong-Yan Li, Guang Du

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

In Shaanxi province, China, the aqueous extract of Rubia cordifolia’s aerial part (AERCAP) is traditionally used to manage diarrhea. However, there is no scientific evidence to verify the safety and efficacy of its use. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory effects of AERCAP by using a rodent model.

Methods

The anti-diarrheal effects were studied by senna leaf-induced diarrheal and intestinal transit experiments in mice. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated by trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colonic inflammation in rats.

Results

The results indicated that AERCAP delayed the onset of semi-solid feces, reduced the evacuation index (EI) in senna leaf-induced diarrheal in mice, and inhibited the propulsive movement in castor oil-induced intestinal transit but not in the normal intestinal transit test. The results were compared with the standard anti-diarrheal drug loperamide. Additionally, oral treatment with AERCAP significantly decreased the macroscopic damage area, improved the microscopic structure, and reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, IL-1β and TNF-α levels in colonic tissue compared with the TNBS control group in rats.

Conclusions

AERCAP exhibited anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory activities in a rodent model. The study validated the traditional use of the plant in Chinese herbal medicine as a valuable natural remedy for the treatment of diarrhea.
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Metadata
Title
Anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extract of the aerial part of Rubia cordifolia
Authors
Xue-Peng Gong
Yuan-Yuan Sun
Wei Chen
Xia Guo
Jian-Kun Guan
Dong-Yan Li
Guang Du
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1527-9

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