Influence of atropine and loperamide on reduced intestinal transit induced by calotropis procera latex in rats

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 (Afr. J. Biomed. Res. 9: 125 - 128, May 2006)

Keywords: Calotropis latex, Intestinal transit, Atropine, Loperamide