Abstract
The effects of Calotropis procera latex alone and in the presence of
loperamide and atropine on intestinal transit in rats were determined
to elucidate the action of C. procera on intestinal transit. Six groups
of rats containing ten rats per group were used. Each rat in the
control group (I) received 0.5 ml of normal saline. Each rat in groups
II, III, and IV received 0.25 ml/100 g, 0.5 ml/100g and 1.0 ml/100g of
C. procera latex respectively. Thirty minutes before the administration
of 0.25 ml of latex of C. procera, each rat in groups V and VI received
0.4 mg/100g atropine sulfate and 0.1 mg/100g loperamide hydrochloride
respectively. Intestinal transit was measured in all animals by
charcoal meal test and was expressed as the percentage of the distance
traveled relative to the entire length of the intestine from the
pyloric junction to the anal orifice. The mean transit point of the dye
in the control group was 85.19 ± 8.51%. For Calotropis procera
treated rats, the mean transit points were 68.47 ± 6.37%, 54.49
± 6.67% and 25.06 ± 4.79% for 0.25 ml/100g, 0.5 ml/100g and
1.0 ml/100g of the latex respectively. The mean transit points in the
groups pretreated with 0.4 mg/100 g atropine (Group V) and 0.1 mg/100 g
loperamide (Group VI) were 55.29 ± 5.09% and 66.87 ± 6.20%
respectively. The results showed that the latex of Calotropis procera
inhibited intestinal motility and its action was potentiated by
atropine and loperamide. This inhibitory action is contradictory to the
observation of diarrhea in fed animals