A preliminary report on the anti-diarrhoeal benefit of <i>Seleru</i>: a possible adjunct HIV/AIDS therapy

Abstract

Infection with the human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is assuming greater proportion. The global estimates of new infections keep rising. The cure for HIV infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is related to the socio-economic status of the population. In our environment, poverty is a major undoing in the medical management of HIV/AIDS using orthodox antiretroviral drugs. Consequently, great attention is being turn to the exploration of herbal remedies in the management of this dreaded disorder. A concoction Seleru (Amodmat^®) is claimed to have benefits for HIV/AIDS. We investigated the role of this concoction on diarrhoea, a distressing symptom of the syndrome. The antidiarrhoeal property of Seleru(Amodmat^®) was investigated using the charcoal meal preparation, on albino wistar rat. The extract was administered at a dose range of between 100mg/kg to 800mg/kg body weight. Results show an antimotility effect on the gastrointestinal tract, supporting a usefulness of the extract in diarrhoeal states.

Keywords: Seleru HIV/AIDS, diarrhoea, herbal remedy

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 4(2) 2005: 146-148