Study of the Antidiarrheal Activity DH01 Extract in Guinea Pigs

The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of DH01 extract, derived from a plant used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhea. Its effect on intestinal fluid accumulation induced by orally administered castor oil was studied in guinea pigs in vivo, while its effect on intestinal motility was assessed by measuring the contraction of isolated guinea pig ileum stimulated by acetylcholine in vitro. The results of the in vivo tests show that the DH01 extract inhibits the accumulation of intestinal fluid caused by castor oil. Furthermore, the results of the in vitro tests show that it relaxes isolated guinea pig ileum contracted by acetylcholine with a EC50 of 0.4 mg/kg. It inhibits the action of acetylcholine in a non-competitive manner and reduces the maximal effect of acetylcholine by 51%. This antidiarrheal effect of the DH01 extract may be due to one or more of the chemical classes it contains, such as tannins, alkaloids, or flavonoids.