Aim: The tuber of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Family-Areacea), commonly called Suran or Jimmikand, has medicinal and food value. It is used in ethnomedicinal practices for correction of gastrointestinal disturbances like constipation and hemorrhoids. The present study evaluated the effect of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius tuber on gastrointestinal motor functions.
Methods: The tuber was collected in December, 2011 and its methanolic extract was standardized with the major phenolic compound, betulinic acid, by HPLC. Rats were orally administered methanolic (APME) or aqueous (APAE) extract (250 and 500 mg/kg, each) of tuber for 7 days. Metoclopramide (3 mg/kg, orally) was used a reference prokinetic drug. The gastrointestinal parameters viz. number of feces, wet and dry weight and moisture content of feces, gastric emptying and intestinal transit were evaluated. Bioassay using isolated tissue preparation were used to check fundus and intestinal contractility of the extracts. Total glucomannan, phenolics and flavonoid contents were determined spectrophotometrically.
Results: The pretreatment of extracts significantly increased the number of feces, wet and dry weight of feces, moisture content, gastric emptying and intestinal transit. Results were comparable to metoclopramide. Further APME and APAE showed contraction of fundus and ileum in isolated preparations. APME and APAE were also found to have fair amount of glucomannan, total phenolics and flavonoids. The results indicate the gastrokinetic potential of the tuber extracts. This may be attributed to presence of glucomannan and betulinic acid present in the extracts.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the tuber of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius exhibits gastrokinetic activity and substantiates its traditional use in gastrointestinal motor disturbances.
Key words: Jimmikand, gastric emptying, intestinal transit, glucomannan, betulinic acid
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