Epi-betulinic acid from the stem bark of Anthostema madagascariensis Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) extracts and its laxative activity in mice

Abstract

The latex of Anthostema madagascariensis is used as a purgative in Malagasy traditional medicine. The study was aimed to investigate the laxative activity of stem barks extracts of A. madagascariensis. The hydroalcoholic crude extract of the stem barks from A. madagascariensis and the three fractions resulting from the fractionation of the hydroalcoholic extract and the isolated compound from the active extract were tested. The laxative activity was investigated using in vivo models intestinal motility in mice. Among all tested dose, the hydroalcoholic extract more or equal to 1000 mg/kg and ethyl acetate extract at 1200mg/kg produced significant (p