Piper guineense (Schum and Thonn) Seed Extract Exhibits Efficient Bowel Cleansing Efficacy for Radiographic Imaging in Female Wistar rats

Radiographic imaging of the gastrointestinal tract for diagnostic screening procedures is dependent on efficient bowel cleansing. Dulcolax has been the choice agent for bowel cleansing though with some undesirable results. The aim was to study the propensity of Piper guineense seed extract to vigorously clean bowel loops in comparison with dulcolax for radiological procedures. Twenty female Wistar rats weighing 140 to 150 g were used for this study. Five rats each were allocated into four groups. Group 1 was the control group and had food and water, Group 2 was treated with 0.75 mg/kg dulcolax, Group 3 and 4 were treated with low dose (4 mg/kg) and high dose (6 mg/kg) of Piper guineense aqueous seed extract respectively. An oral acute toxicity test was conducted using the up-and-down method. Radiographic images were obtained and used to assess the bowel-cleansing suitability using the 4-point scale grading system. Mean bowel cleansing efficacy of Piper guineense in Group 4 was significantly higher than the mean bowel cleansing efficacy in Group 2 and Group 3 (p< 0.01). Three-quarters of Group 2 rats were observed to have dehydration and postural dizziness more than the other groups and the mean body weight loss recorded in Group 2 was significantly (p < 0.01) greater than the mean body weight loss in Group 3. The results of this study suggest that Piper guineense at 6 mg/kg has a high bowel cleansing efficacy with minimal side effects than dulcolax in female Wistar rats.