Unveiling the anti-diarrheal potential of Persicaria vivipara: phytochemical characterization and opioid receptor-targeted in vivo and in silico studies
TL;DR
Insight is given into the use of Persicaria vivipara extract for the treatment of diarrhea by investigating the in vivo and in silico antidiarrheal potential of a methanolic extract of Persicaria vivipara roots.
Abstract
The advent of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has escalated the exploration of novel antidiarrheal drugs. Persicaria vivipara is a perennial herb of the Polygonaceae family, located in high-elevation regions. The present study was designed to perform phytochemical analysis and investigate the in vivo and in silico antidiarrheal potential of a methanolic extract of Persicaria vivipara roots (MEPV). Phytochemical analysis was performed using GC-MS, and the extract was characterized by total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and anti-microbial activity analysis. For anti-diarrheal activity, Swiss albino mice were divided into five groups. Group II was treated with loperamide, and groups III–V received 100, 200, and 400 mg per kg MEPV in castor oil, respectively, and gastrointestinal motility was assessed. Furthermore, Swiss ADME and molecular docking with the mu-opioid receptor were conducted to identify potent anti-diarrheal secondary metabolites. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 29 secondary bioactive compounds. The methanolic extract had 124.76 ± 1.33 mg GAE per g and 34.68 ± 1.35 mg GAE per g phenolic and flavonoid content, respectively. The antimicrobial activity tests showed 11 mm and 12 mm inhibition zones against S. aureus and E. coli as compared to ciprofloxacin (28 mm). The methanolic extract substantially reduced the distance covered by charcoal markers and inhibited diarrhea (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001). In castor oil-induced diarrheal tests, MEPV reduced the onset of diarrhea, fecal weight, and fecal number compared with the control group (p < 0.000 to p < 0.01). SwissADME was used to identify phytocompounds that follow the Lipinski rule of five, which were subjected to docking studies. 5,5,11,11-Tetramethyltricyclo[6.2.1.0,1,6]undec-6-en-2-one and methyl 3-(acetyloxymethyl)biphenylene-2-carboxylate showed the highest binding affinities against opioid receptors 4DKL and 6DDE with scores of −9.6 and −7.8 kcal mol−1, respectively. Consequently, this study gives insight into the use of Persicaria vivipara extract for the treatment of diarrhea.