It can then be postulated that the antidiarrheal effects of the
extract were mediated by agonism at both the α1 adrenoceptors
and the m opioid receptors. Activity at the α1 adrenoceptors resulted
in the inhibition of motility while activity at the opioid
receptors was involved in the inhibition of both the motility and
secretion.
Preliminary phytochemical analysis of B. biternata has con-
firmed the presence of various types of chemical compounds
which include phenols, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides and free
fatty acids (Sukumaran et al., 2012). In addition, this plant species is used as a leafy vegetable attesting to its nutritional properties
which have also been scientifically documented (Sukumaran et al.,
2012). This therefore increases its utility in the management of
diarrhea that is comorbid with malnutrition, a common situation
in the developing world.