EVALUATION OF POSSIBLE LAXATIVE POTENTIAL OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT AND SAPONIN FRACTION OF CENTELLA ASIATICA LEAVES IN LOPERAMIDE-INDUCED CONSTIPATED WISTAR RATS

Background: Centella asiatica is a medicinal plant commonly used in India and Southeast Asia for healing wounds, reducing high fevers, improving venous blood supply, treating skin patches and other diseases.

Objectives: This study investigated the laxative potential of aqueous extract and saponin fraction of Centella asiatica leaves in loperamide-induced constipated wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: A total of 28 wistar rats were distributed into 7 groups of 4 rats each. Constipation was induced orally using 1ml of 3mg/kg of loperamide for 3 days, the control group received water and feed only, other groups were treated with 250 and 500 and 125 and 250, and 15mg/kg doses of aqueous extract, saponin fraction of Centella asiatica leaves and senokot respectively for 7 days. The faecal parameters, plasma electrolytes, urea and creatinine concentrations were evaluated by adopting standard methodologies.

Results: The 500mg/kg aqueous extract (AE) significantly increased (p≤0.05) total number of faecal pellets (109.60±6.98), faecal weight (20.00±1.34g) and faecal water content (3.40±0.98ml). Both the aqueous extract and saponin fraction improved water and feed intake of the constipated wistar rats. 125mg/kg and 250mg/kg saponin fraction (SF) significantly increased (p≤0.05) gastrointestinal transit percentage with 250mg/kg saponin fraction having the highest percentage (89.66%) when compared to other treatment groups, which was suggestive that both AE and SF improved faecal parameters in constipated rats.

Conclusion: This study revealed that both the aqueous extract and saponin fraction of Centella asiatica leaves exhibited tremendous laxative potential, thus, providing an alternative and cheap source of laxative over orthodox medicine.