Abstract

ECHEMENDIA SALIS, Carlos E  and  MORON RODRIGUEZ, Francisco J. Tincture from leaves of Psidium guajava L. in patients with simple acute diarrhea. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2004, vol.9, n.3, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1028-4796.

Background: the leave from Psidium guajava L. is considered as an antidiarrheal in the traditional medicine of many countries and there are papers that validate its use scientifically. Objective: To determine the effect of the tincture (ethanol 70 %) of dried leaves 20 % in simple acute diarrhea in adults. Methods: a clinical longitudinal randomized double blind test was carried out among 100 adult patients with acute diarrheal disease. They were divided into 2 groups: the treated group (10 mL of tincture 20 % dissolved in water, every 8 h) and the control group (tincture 1 %). All of them could drink ad libitum oral rehydration salts. The patients were given a detailed explanation and their written consent was required later. The time elapsed from the beginning of the treatment to the cure was measured and compared with the spontaneous cure (tincture 1 %). The possible adverse reactions were seeked. Results: there was a statistically significant difference in favor of the tincture from the leave 20 % at 24, 48 and 72 h after the beginning of the treatment and no adverse reactions were detected. Conclusions: tincture 20 % from the leave of Psidium guajava had a marked antidiarrheal effect in the clinical assay.

Keywords : Psidium guajava; acute diarrhea; controlled clinical assay; randomized clinical assay; double blind; herbal drug; fitotherapy; medicinal plants; complementary medicine.