Antidiarrheal and antiulcer activity of Amaranthus spinosus in experimental animals

Figures & data

Figure 1.  Effect of 50% ethanol extract of Amaranthus spinosus (ASE) on gastrointestinal propulsion. 100, 200, 400 mg/kg, Y, and M represent doses of ASE, yohimbine (1 mg/kg, s.c.), and morphine (10 mg/kg, s.c.). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 mice. ***p < 0.001 compared to control group.

Table 1.  Effect of 50% ethanol extract of Amaranthus spinosus (ASE) on caster oil induced diarrheal parameters.

Group	Dose (mg/kg)	Onset of diarrhea (min)	No. of wet stools	Total no. of stools	Wt. of wet stools (g)	Mean total diarrhea score
Control	1% CMC	100.7 ± 5.64	7.3 ± 1.51	9.3 ± 1.41	0.270 ± 0.04	13.0 ± 0.64
ASE	100	117.4 ± 7.73	4.3 ± 0.86	6.2 ± 0.77	0.196 ± 0.04	11.2 ± 2.06
ASE	200	184.7 ± 22.82**	2.6 ± 0.63*	4.5 ± 0.78*	0.121 ± 0.04*	08.6 ± 2.14
ASE	400	217.7 ± 13.81***	2.1 ± 0.44**	3.7 ± 0.56**	0.098 ± 0.03**	07.3 ± 0.92***
Morphine	10	225.6 ± 8.36***	1.0 ± 0.34**	2.6 ± 0.54**	0.710 ± 0.04***	05.7 ± 0.76***

100, 200, and 400 mg/kg represent doses of ASE; morphine, 10 mg/kg, s.c. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 mice.

*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 compared to control group.

Figure 2.  Effect of 50% ethanol extract of Amaranthus spinosus (ASE) on intestinal fluid accumulation. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 rats. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001 compared to control group.

Table 2.  Effect of 50% ethanol extract of Amaranthus spinosus (ASE) on ethanol- and aspirin-induced changes in gastric ulcers.

Group	Dose (mg/kg)	Ethanol-induced ulcer		Aspirin-induced ulcer
		Ulcer index ratio	% Curative	Ulcer index ratio	% Curative
Control	1% CMC	18.6 ± 4.5	—	22.5 ± 3.4	—
ASE	100	09.1 ± 1.2	51.07	13.2 ± 2.2*	41.33
ASE	200	08.2 ± 1.2*	55.91	08.6 ± 2.7**	61.77
ASE	400	04.1 ± 1.7**	77.95	04.3 ± 1.3***	80.88
Cimetidine	50	07.3 ± 1.6*	60.75	05.7 ± 2.8**	74.66

100, 200, and 400 mg/kg represent doses of ASE; cimetidine, 50 mg/kg, p.o. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 rats.

*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 compared to control group.

Table 3.  Effect of 50% ethanol extract of Amaranthus spinosus (ASE) on ulcer index and lipid peroxidation against cold restraint stress-induced gastric ulcers.

Group	Dose (mg/kg)	Ulcer index ratio	% Curative	Lipid peroxidation
Control	1% CMC	00.0 ± 0.0	—	0.41 ± 0.01
Cold restraint stress	—	23.7 ± 3.1***	—	0.51 ± 0.02**
ASE	100	10.2 ± 1.8**	56.96	0.38 ± 0.02***
ASE	200	08.7 ± 1.9**	63.29	0.34 ± 0.02***
ASE	400	04.5 ± 1.7***	81.01	0.25 ± 0.01***
Cimetidine	50	11.3 ± 2.3**	52.32	0.42 ± 0.01**
Reduced glutathione	150	05.4 ± 1.4***	77.21	0.22 ± 0.01***

100, 200, and 400 mg/kg represent doses of ASE; cimetidine, 50 mg/kg, p.o.; reduced glutathione, 150 mg/kg, i.p. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 rats.

*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, cold restraint stress group compared to control group while treated group compared to cold restraint stress group.