Stimulation of gastric acid secretion and intestinal motility by Vernonia amygdalina extract

Aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina infused intragastrically at a dose of 10 mg/ml to rats induced a significant increase in acid output which was reduced by, ranitidine (5 mg/kg b.w.) or atropine (1.2 μMol/kg b.w.). Moreover the extract evoked a dose-dependent contraction of the guinea pig ileum at a dose range of 0.6 mg/ml to 66 mg/ml which was inhibited by atropine (2.4 × 10− 8–2.4 × 10− 6 M).