ANTIDIARRHEAL ACTIVITY OF THE ETHANOL EXTRACT OF ANDONG STEM (Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A. Cheval) AGAINST Salmonella typhi

Purpose: Diarrhea is a health problem in developing countries, including Indonesia. The Ogan ethnic community in South Sumatra, Indonesia, uses andong stem (Cordyline fruticosa) to treat diarrhea. The aims of this study included the phytochemical analysis of an ethanol extract of C. fruticosa and to perform determine its in-vivo antidiarrheal effect on white male Wistar-strain rats infected with Salmonella typhi.

Methods: Phytochemical analysis was carried out qualitatively and quantitatively. The rats were divided into six groups: normal, negative control, positive control, and three groups treated with C. fruticosa stem ethanol extract (CFEE) in doses of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg BW (dose I, II, III respectively).

Results: The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, total phenolic (15.0653 mg GAE/g), and total flavonoid (0.8545 mg QE/g). The extract at dose III decreased the amount of S. typhi bacterial cells in the feces (ABCF), and the percentage of change in body weight of the rats (% CBWR) was insignificant compared to the positive control (P > 0.05). Dose II decreased ABCF on day 12 was insignificant compared to the dose III. The consistency of the feces of the rats in the positive control, dose III, and dose II groups were similar. A histopathological analysis showed that dose III and dose II caused small changes in the small intestine and liver.

Conclusions: CFEE is a potential antidiarrheal agent at doses 300 and 600 mg/kg BW respectively, which resulted in small changes in the small intestine and liver.