Effects of Hedranthera barteri root extract on Gastric emptying and Intestinal Motility in Wistar rats

Abstract

Hedranthera barteri leaf extracts have been reported in folk medicine to have laxative properties amongst its many other 
therapeutic potentials. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the effects of Methanol extract of Hedranthera barteri
(MEHBR) root on gastric emptying and intestinal motility in albino rats. The methanol extract of H. barteri (MEHBR) was 
obtained by cold extraction and stored at 4°C. Forty-eight female rats weighing (180-200g) were randomly divided into two 
groups of 24 rats each based on the parameters being assessed (gastric emptying and intestinal motility). Each subgroup was 
divided into four groups of six rats each as follows: Group 1, the control group, was given normal saline while animals in groups 
2, 3 and 4 were treated with 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg of MEHBR respectively. Gastric emptying was assessed using 
the glass beads method and gastrointestinal motility was assessed as a measure of the percentage change in gastrointestinal transit 
time using the charcoal meal method. A decrease in gastric emptying rate was observed in the rats treated with MEHBR at 
50mg/kg (P < 0.05) when compared to control rats while values obtained in the 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg MEHBR treated rats 
indicate a significant increase in gastric emptying rate. Intestinal motility increased in a dose dependent manner with the 50mg/kg, 
100mg/kg and 200mg/kg exhibiting percentage gastrointestinal transit time of 47.3 ± 5.5%, 35.7 ± 5.2% and 23.3 ± 3.0% 
respectively. Methanol root extracts of Hedranthera barteri decreases gastric emptying rate at low dose and increases gastric 
emptying at high doses. H. barteri also increases gastrointestinal motility in a dose dependent manner with 200mg/kg treatment 
exhibiting the highest laxative effect..