Pharmacological insight into The Potential Efficacy of Some Halophytes in Alleviating Digestive System Disorders

Introduction: The use of plants in disease treatment is an important therapeutic option that has long been used by Bedouins. Qassim area is one of Saudi Arabia regions gifted with plant species with diversified metabolic content. The current research aims at evidencing the traditional use of some wild plants in management of gastrointestinal disorders. Methods: Four plants from different plant families: Deverra triradiata (Apiaceae), Suaeda aegyptiaca (Amaranthaceae), Heliotropium aegyptiacum, and Heliotropium bacciferum (Boraginaceae) were investigated for their potential antispasmodic and antidiarrheal effects. The acute toxicity study was conducted using arithmetic Kerber`s method. The antidiarrheal efficacy was investigated using in vivo castor oil induced diarrhea model. The antispasmodic activity was evaluated using isolated rabbit jejunum. Results: Indicated highest mortality in animals received extract of the arial parts of D. triradiata (DTE), while the gum of the same plant (DTG) together with the extracts of the three plants: S. aegyptiaca (SAE), H. bacciferum (HBE), and H. aegyptiacum (HAE) caused no signs of neither over toxicity nor death during the 24 hours. observation period following oral administration of doses up to 7-10 g/kg. In castor oil induced diarrhea, all tested extracts, except for DTE, displayed a potent antidiarrheal activity expressed as 89-94.7% delay of defecation in animals received castor oil. Antispasmodic activity testing noted HAE for powerful antispasmodic efficacy estimated as 90% inhibition of contraction at a dose of 0.1 mg/100mL. Conclusion: The current results indicated powerful activity of H. aegyptiacum and S. aegyptiaca extracts in management of GITD. These findings recommend extensive phytochemical studies of both species in order to highlight the main metabolites responsible for the recorded activity.