Abstract

Abstract: : Baccharis crispa is commonly known to be used in the treatment of several digestive disorders and the primary purpose of this study was to detect its acute toxicity. Its influence on general behaviour, sleeping time and intestinal transit activity in mice were followed as a mean of initial validation for popular use. The gastrointestinal effect was determined by testing the influence of B. crispa (Bc) on both intestinal motility (in vivo) and spontaneous contractile response of isolated ileum (in vitro). Oral administration of Bc showed low toxicity and induced a significant shortening of sleeping time in mice. After in vitro evaluation on isolated ileum, doses of 5.10-4; 10-4 and 5.10-3 mg/mL of Bc potentiated the contractile response to acetylcholine. The intestinal propulsive activity increased with oral doses of 1, 5 and 50 mg/kg of Bc. After in vitro and in vivo gastrointestinal evaluations of Bc extract, it was clear that an efficient prokinetic activity and a significant increase in spontaneous contraction induced by acetylcholine in isolated mouse ileum occurred. These results partially support and justify the traditional use of B. crispa to treat gastrointestinal disorders.

Key words: Baccharis crispa, mice, ileum, prokinetic activity, sleeping time