ABSTRACT

Laxative and diuretic is gradually becoming a health burden leading to an increase in the search for herbal phytochemical agents as alternative to synthetic ones. The effect of laxative and diuretics on experimental animals is well established. Vernonia amygdalina have been known for its nutritional and medical properties, the present study aimed at evaluating the effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Vernonia ainygdalina on laxative and diuretics in experimental rats. Acute toxicity studies of the plant extract was determined and the LD50was found to be 500m1/dl. Doses of 1000, 500, 250, 125, 62.5, 31.25mg/kg of the extract were administered intraperitoneally. Frusemide was used as control diuretic drug and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate were also used as a control for laxative drug. At the end of the experiment the electrolyte was determined using flame photometer and the weight of faeces also recorded. It was observed that there is a increase in concentration of the electrolyte urine volume and an increase in laxative output. Preliminaiy Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, terpenoids and reducing sugars. This study showed that there was a significant increase (p<O.05) in the urinary electrolyte levels of the animals treated groups that were administered, 31.25, 62.5 and 125mg/kg of the extract 21.38±0.82mg/dl, 18.08±0.69mg/di and 11.89± 0.l6mg/dl to 8.55±0.49mg/di, 7.70+0.42mg/dl and 7.00±0.29mg/di i.e 250 mg, 500mg and 1000mg. With a maximum reduction (p<O.Ol) of 5.77+0. l9mg/di recorded in groups treated with control. There is also a significant increase (p<O.05) in faecal output from 1000mg to 31.25mg that is 1.0500 to 4.400. Also an increase in laxative drug dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate 5.1500 in the test group. Our finding indicates that the administration of the extract produces diuresis and laxative which has effect on experimental animals.