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J Herbmed Pharmacol. 2022;11(2): 213-225.
doi: 10.34172/jhp.2022.26

Scopus ID: 85129474167
  Abstract View: 1666
  PDF Download: 842

Original Article

Antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, and toxic effects of the aqueous and methanolic leaf and fruit extracts of Cucumis dipsaceus (Ehrenb. Ex Spach.)

Purity Kanana Kimathi 1* ORCID logo, Timothy Maitho 1 ORCID logo, James Mbaria 1 ORCID logo, Gervason Moriasi 2 ORCID logo

1 Department of Public Health, Pharmacology, and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Nairobi, PO Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya
2 Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Mount Kenya University, PO 342-01000, Thika, Kenya
*Corresponding Author: Email: puritykanana26@gmail.com

Abstract

Introduction: Cucumis dipsaceus is used to treat diarrhoea, microbial infections, among other diseases across the world; however, there is insufficient empirical data to validate its efficacy, toxicity, and safety. Accordingly, we investigated the antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, and toxic effects of the aqueous and methanolic leaf and fruit extracts of C. dipsaceus.Methods: Antidiarrheal activities of the aqueous and methanolic leaf and fruit extracts of C. dipsaceus were investigated using the castor oil-induced diarrhoea technique in a Wistar rat model. The disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods were adopted to determine the antimicrobial activities of the studied plant extracts. The acute oral toxicity effects of the studied plant extracts were investigated in Wistar rats according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines.Results: The aqueous and methanolic leaf and fruit extracts of C. dipsaceus significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited diarrhoea in a dose-dependent manner in experimental rats. Besides, the studied extracts significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the growth of Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans in varying degrees, as depicted by their growth inhibition zones (>6.00 mm) and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs <1000 μg/mL). Moreover, the studied extracts did not cause any observable acute oral toxicity effects in the experimental rats across the 14-day experimental period.Conclusion: The aqueous and methanolic leaf and fruit extracts of C. dipsaceus present a potential source of safe and efficacious lead compounds for developing antidiarrheal and antimicrobial therapies.

This research article valorises Cucumis dipsaceus as a potential source of efficacious and safe antidiarrheal and antimicrobial lead compounds.
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Submitted: 23 Oct 2021
Revision: 20 Nov 2021
Accepted: 11 Dec 2021
ePublished: 01 Apr 2022
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