Planta Med 2007; 73 - P_518
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-987298

Biphasic Gastrointestinal Activity of the Aqueous Root Extract of Talinum Triangulare Jacq. Willd (Portulacaceae)

OO Adeyemi 1, OP Oyeniyi 1, HOC Mbagwu 1, 2
  • 1Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B. 12003, Lagos, Nigeria
  • 2Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Nigeria

Talinum triangulare (TT) is a herbaceous perennial plant widely grown in tropical regions of the world. In Nigeria, it is cultivated in gardens and large farms and serves as one of the most important edible leaf vegetables (1). The root is used in the treatment of inflammation (2) and locally for other gastrointestinal upsets. In this study, we evaluated some gastrointestinal activities of the aqueous root extract of TT using three models: Intestinal propulsive movement (IPM), Castor-oil induced diarrhoea (COD) and Intestinal fluid accumulation (IFA).

Pretreatment of rats with lower doses (50–200mg/kg) caused a dose-dependent but non-significant increase in onset of diarrhoea and total diarrhoea score which were significantly (p<0.05) less than that produced by liquid paraffin (10ml/kg). The differences in other diarrhoeal parameters such as number of wet stools, total number of stools were neither significant nor dose-dependent. Higher doses (500–2000mg/kg), however, produced a dose-dependent delay in onset of diarrhoea, frequency of stooling and total diarrhoea score. These parameters were significant only at 2000mg/kg and were less than that of atropine (2mg/kg).

There were dose dependent and non-significant increases in IFA by the lower doses which were less than that of liquid paraffin. The higher doses significantly (p<0.05) inhibited IFA. The inhibitions by the higher doses were significantly greater than that of atropine.

Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides and phenols.

These results show that TT produces biphasic gastrointestinal effects. Lower doses produce laxative, while higher doses produce anti-diarrhoeal, effects.

References: [1] Nyananyo, B.L., and Olowokudejo, J.D. (1986): Taxanomic studies in the genus Talinum (Portulacaceae) in Nigeria. Wildenowie 15: 455–463. [2] ARCBS, (2004): Asean Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation: www.aseanbiodiversity.org/medicinal-plants.