Evaluation of in-Vitro antioxidant and antidiarrheal activities of Peperomia Pellucida methanol extracts on Albino mice

Abstract

Peperomia pellucida also known as shiny bush is a common plant wildly distributed in the tropical regions of the world including Nigeria. In ethnomedicine, it is used to treat hemorrhages, fevers, lower cholesterol levels and serves as a cough suppressant, emollient, and diuretic. This study evaluated the in vitro and antidiarrhea activities of Peperomia pellucida. For the in vitro antioxidant assay the following methods were used: 2-diphenyl-2-pierylhydrazylhydrate (DPPH) scavenging activity, Superoxide scavenging activity, Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, Lipid Peroxidation Assay, Total Antioxidant Capacity, 2,2’-Azinobis (3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic Acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity and Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Antidiarrheal activities were studied using Castor Oil-Induced and Intestinal Transit in Mice models. Methanol and aqueous plant extract of Peperomia pellucida at various concentration demonstrated impressive in vitro antioxidant scavenging activities. The onset of diarrheal (**P<0.01) and the % of charcoal travel (*P<0.05) in the mice was reduced at 200 mg/kg compared to the control. Conclusively, this study showed that the aqueous and methanol extract of Peperomia pellucida has in vitro free radical scavenging activities. The plant demonstrated antidiarrheal activities.