Evaluation of Albizia lebbeck and Curcuma longa Extracts on Gastrointestinal Motility, Safety, and Hematological Parameters: A Sub-Chronic Toxicity and Pharmacological Study

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal disorders are prevalent worldwide, necessitating effective and safe therapeutic options. The use of herbal medicine dates back thousands of years, with various cultures employing plants to treat ailments. Albizia lebbeck and Curcuma longa extracts have traditional uses in managing gastrointestinal issues.Methods: This study evaluated the effects of Albizia lebbeck and Curcuma longa extracts on gastrointestinal motility, safety, and hematological parameters in rats. The study was done at Federal University of Technology Minna, in September 2024, Minna Niger, State Nigeria. Gastrointestinal motility was assessed using gastric emptying rate and intestinal transit time. Safety was evaluated through sub-chronic toxicity studies, including liver and kidney function tests and hematology parameters.Results: Albizia lebbeck and Curcuma longa extracts significantly enhanced gastrointestinal motility and antioxidant activity (p<0.05), improved liver function (ALT: -15.4 %, AST: -12.5 %), and kidney function (creatinine: -10.3 %, urea: -9.5 %). Hematology parameters showed significant increases in hemoglobin (+8.5 %) and lymphocyte percentage (+11.9 %). No significant toxicity was observed in bodyweight, hematology, biochemistry or organ weight.Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate the prokinetic effects of Albizia lebbeck and Curcuma longa extracts on gastrointestinal motility in rats. The active ingredients of these herbal extracts may contribute to their prokinetic effects by modulating gut motility and secretion. The combination therapy potentiated the prokinetic effects, suggesting a synergistic interaction between the two herbal extracts. These findings support the traditional use of these herbal remedies in managing gastrointestinal disorders, with a favorable safety profile. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms underlying these effects and to confirm their safety and efficacy in human clinical trials.