EFFECT ON ELECTROLYTE AND WATER TRANSPORT BY PSIDIUM-GUAJAVA']JAVA EXTRACT IN A RAT SECRETORY DIARRHEA MODEL

A secretory diarrhoea model was prepared by gavaging male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) with a 10% aqueous dilution of the microenema Microlax (0.1 ml per 100 g; Microlax is a registered trade name of microenema produced by Pharmacia AB, S-751 82 Uppsala, Sweden). Two control groups were sacrificed at 1 h and 2 h, respectively, after the Microlax gavage. The small intestine was excised after clamping the duodenal and ileo-caecal ends, and the contents were analysed for Na+, K+ and fluid volume. Two groups were gavaged with the Psidium guajava leaf extract at 0.05 and 0.1 mg per 100 g, respectively, while a third test group received ORS (an oral rehydration salt solution) at 0.1 mg per 100 g. The fluid content of the ileum was reduced dose-dependently by the extract, and the hyperpropulsion was abolished. By a process which may be either facilitation of absorption or decrease in secretion, both Na+ and K+ levels in the ileum were dose-dependently and significantly reduced by the extract. The ORS reversed intestinal water loss and also significantly reversed the Na+ and K+ secretion into the small intestine as expected.