Planta Med 1995; 61(4): 302-306
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-958088
Papers

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effect of Quercitrin on Lactose-Induced Chronic Diarrhoea in Rats

J. Gálvez1 , F. Sánchez de Medina1 , J. Jiménez1 , M. I. Torres2 , M. I. Fernández2 , M. C. Núñez3 , A. Ríos2 , A. Gil3 , A. Zarzuelo1
  • 1Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain
  • 2Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain
  • 3Departamento I+D PULEVA, Carretera de Purchil, s/n, E-18193 Granada, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

1994

1994

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

Quercitrin (3-rhamnosylquercetin) is a bioflavonoid contained in several crude drugs traditionally used for its antidiarrhoeal activity. The anti-diarrhoeic effect of quercitrin on experimental chronic diarrhoea in rats was studied. Adult rats were fed for 14 days with a synthetic diet in which all soluble carbohydrates were substituted by lactose, resulting in chronic diarrhoea with body weight loss, colonic hyperplasia, reduced average cell size, increased alkaline phosphatase activity, increased mucus production and cytopathological alterations of the enterocyte. The rest of the animals were allowed to recover from chronic diarrhoea for 3 or 7 days, by feeding them with a standard diet, and half of them were also given quercitrin orally (50 mg/kg day). Diarrhoea ceased 48 h after lactose withdrawal, and body weight recovery was apparent after 3 days. Nevertheless, most of the alterations of the colonic mucosa persisted at that time. Quercitrin-treated rats had less diarrhoeal output and did not show mucosal hyperplasia after three days of treatment. All animals had greatly recovered by the seventh day, but histological alterations were still present, although to a lesser extent in quercitrin-treated rats. Quercitrin and related flavonoids may play a role in intestinal repair following chronic mucosal injury.