RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Hypertensive patients have been using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to meet their primary healthcare needs within Ethiopia. The use of plant-based medicine is not only common rather it is also a culturally accredited practice, among the people of Ethiopia. However, studies conducted on the prevalence and correlates of herbal medicine (HM) use among hypertensive patients are lacking. Thus, this study aimed to assess CAM use and its associated factors among hypertensive patients. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 450 hypertensive patients, visiting the hypertensive care service of Debre Tabor General Hospital from November 1 to December 28, 2020. Interview-guided self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 24.0 was used for data analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was computed to identify associated factors of CAM use (age, sex, religion, residence, marital status, educational level, monthly income, presence of HTN complication, duration of HTN, and family history of HTN). RESULTS: Out of the 450 hypertensive patients, 275 (67.8%) participants used complementary and alternative medicine. Herbal medicines used among hypertensive patients were M. stenoptela 105 (62.9%), O. lamiifolium 81 (48.5%), C. aurea 62 (37.1%), R. nepalensis 44 (26.3%), M. piperata 36 (21.6%), H. abyssinica 24 (14.4%), T. schimperi 19 (11.4%), R. abyssinicus 15 (9.0%), and T. foenumgraecum 9 (5.4%). Majority of CAM users 202 (73.5) did not discuss with health professionals about their CAM use. Families and friends 91 (33.1%) were the frontline source of information about CAM use. In a multivariate analysis, female gender patients over 45 years old, rural residence, higher educational level, high average monthly income, presence of complications, greater than 5 years duration of hypertension (HTN), and having a family history of HTN were the independent predictors of CAM use. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CAM use among hypertensive patients was high 275 (67.8%). Factors associated with CAM use are similar to those observed in previous studies, but further research is required to further clarify the opportunities and challenges correlated to CAM use in Ethiopia.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Hagenia abyssinica is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants for the treatment of diarrhea in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antidiarrheal effect of methanol crude extract of H. abyssinica leaves in mice. METHODS: Acute toxicity testing was conducted using Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines. The antidiarrheal activity of the crude extract of H. abyssinica was investigated using three animal models such as small intestine transit, enteropooling, and castor oil-induced diarrhea models. The extract was administered at three different doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) to the test groups, while the positive control group received 3 mg/kg of loperamide and the negative control group received 10 ml/kg of vehicle (distilled water). RESULTS: The crude extract of H. abyssinica did not exhibit death at the limit dose (2 g/kg) throughout the observation period. In the castor oil-induced model, the crude extract at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg exhibited a significant (P < 0.05) antimotility effect as compared to the negative control. The crude extract revealed a significant reduction in the volume and weight of intestinal contents at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses of the extract. Moreover, the highest antidiarrheal index (ADI) was obtained with the dose of 400 mg/kg of crude extract, which was comparable to the standard drug. CONCLUSION: The crude extract of Hagenia abyssinica possesses antidiarrheal activity and supports the traditional use of H. abyssinica for the management of diarrhea.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Ethiopia has several medicinal plants that have been used for their antidiarrheal activity. Hagenia abyssinica is the most commonly used medicinal plant for the management of diarrhea in Ethiopia. Thus, this study's aim is to investigate the antidiarrheal effect of solvent fractions of H. abyssinica. METHODS: Antidiarrheal activity of extract fractions obtained from different solvents was evaluated by using small intestine transit, enteropooling, and castor oil-induced diarrhea animal models. In all animal models, the solvent fractions treated groups were treated with three different doses (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg) of the solvent fractions, while the negative control group was treated with a vehicle (distilled water), and positive control group was treated with loperamide. RESULTS: The acute toxicity test revealed that the LD50 of H. abyssinica is > 2000 mg/kg. In castor oil-induced, the solvent fractions of H. abyssinica (at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05-0.001) prolonged the stool frequency, reduced the weight of feces, and delayed diarrheal onset time as compared with the negative control group. The fractions produced a significant (P < 0.05) antimotility effect at the doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg as compared to the negative control. All solvent fractions at the middle and higher doses showed a statistically significant dose-dependent reduction in the volume of intestinal contents and weight of the feces. However, the solvent fractions of H. abyssinica at a dose of 100 mg/kg failed to produce a statistically significant activity in all parameters (number of wet feces, the onset of diarrhea, and number of total feces) when compared with the negative control group. CONCLUSION: The extract fractions obtained from different solvents have shown significant antidiarrheal activity. Thus, this finding supports the claimed traditional use of H. abyssinica leaves for the treatment of diarrhea.
