Reviewer's report
Title:The effect of Aloe ferox Mill. in the treatment of loperamide-induced
constipation in Wistar rats
Version: 1Date:24 March 2010
Reviewer: Anwar Gilani
Reviewer's report:
Major Essential Revisions
1. 1st paragraph of the study is redundant and be removed. Ideally the number of
animals should have been at least 5 in each group
2. In “Method” section of the abstract, mention the dose of loperamide instead of
writing just loperamide.
3. It is necessary that authors must provide a short detail for all statistical
parameters used, in the methodology section of the manuscript. It would be
advisable to consult a statistician if possible. Statistics used in this study is not
clear. It is important to use appropriate statistics to show a dose-dependent
effect. In Figure 1 and Table 2, statistical symbols (b and c) were used to
compare with the symbol a, while no characteristics values have been assigned
to these symbolic representation, hence, no one can make a clue about whether
the effect is dose-dependent or not.
4. Senokot, which is used as positive control, is in fact a constipation relieving
drug, hence, the terminology used “constipation drug” be replaced with “laxative
drug throughout the text.
5. In Table 2, the authors want to observe the effect of treatment on constipation
model, while they compared the data with normal control, which is not
appropriate. Show a comparison of the treatment groups with constipation control
instead of normal control and also mention the statistical parameter used, and
the difference between b, c and d (symbols used for significance level).
Minor Essential Revisions
Revise bibliography and use only the first alphabet in capital letter while writing
the name of plant in italic format.
Throughout the manuscript either use “h” or “hrs” to represent hours but
consistently or as justified following the instruction from the journal.
Corrections
Page no. 2, Paragraph no. 1, line no. 3-4; replace “in the treatment of” with “was
studied
against” and also remove was investigated.
Page no. 3, Paragraph no. 2, line no. 3; replace surfer with suffer
Page no. 3, Paragraph no. 3, line no. 1; replace “chemotherapeutic agent” with
“chemical
drug”
Page no. 4, Paragraph no. 2, line no. 13; Is it a standard constipation drug or
standard
laxative drug ?
Page no. 5, Paragraph no. 1, line no. 1; replace “Pty” with “Pvt”
Page no. 5, Paragraph no. 1, line no. 1; replace “reagent” with “reagents”
Page no.7, Paragraph no 1. line no. 9; replace plant name in italic format
Page no.10, Paragraph no 1. line no. 9-10; Please reconsider the statement “ the
possible
mechanism of the extract in this process may be by
enhancing the absorption of fluid and increasing
the intestinal secretion.
In Figure and Table legends; add “the aqueous extract of ” before Aloe frox
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Reviewer's report
Title:The effect of Aloe ferox Mill. in the treatment of loperamide-induced
constipation in Wistar rats
Version: 1Date:24 March 2010
Reviewer: Anwar Gilani
Reviewer's report:
Major Essential Revisions
1. 1st paragraph of the study is redundant and be removed. Ideally the number of
animals should have been at least 5 in each group
2. In “Method” section of the abstract, mention the dose of loperamide instead of
writing just loperamide.
3. It is necessary that authors must provide a short detail for all statistical
parameters used, in the methodology section of the manuscript. It would be
advisable to consult a statistician if possible. Statistics used in this study is not
clear. It is important to use appropriate statistics to show a dose-dependent
effect. In Figure 1 and Table 2, statistical symbols (b and c) were used to
compare with the symbol a, while no characteristics values have been assigned
to these symbolic representation, hence, no one can make a clue about whether
the effect is dose-dependent or not.
4. Senokot, which is used as positive control, is in fact a constipation relieving
drug, hence, the terminology used “constipation drug” be replaced with “laxative
drug throughout the text.
5. In Table 2, the authors want to observe the effect of treatment on constipation
model, while they compared the data with normal control, which is not
appropriate. Show a comparison of the treatment groups with constipation control
instead of normal control and also mention the statistical parameter used, and
the difference between b, c and d (symbols used for significance level).
Minor Essential Revisions
Revise bibliography and use only the first alphabet in capital letter while writing
the name of plant in italic format.
Throughout the manuscript either use “h” or “hrs” to represent hours but
consistently or as justified following the instruction from the journal.
Corrections
Page no. 2, Paragraph no. 1, line no. 3-4; replace “in the treatment of” with “was
studied
against” and also remove was investigated.
Page no. 3, Paragraph no. 2, line no. 3; replace surfer with suffer
Page no. 3, Paragraph no. 3, line no. 1; replace “chemotherapeutic agent” with
“chemical
drug”
Page no. 4, Paragraph no. 2, line no. 13; Is it a standard constipation drug or
standard
laxative drug ?
Page no. 5, Paragraph no. 1, line no. 1; replace “Pty” with “Pvt”
Page no. 5, Paragraph no. 1, line no. 1; replace “reagent” with “reagents”
Page no.7, Paragraph no 1. line no. 9; replace plant name in italic format
Page no.10, Paragraph no 1. line no. 9-10; Please reconsider the statement “ the
possible
mechanism of the extract in this process may be by
enhancing the absorption of fluid and increasing
the intestinal secretion.
In Figure and Table legends; add “the aqueous extract of ” before Aloe frox
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:The effect of Aloe ferox Mill. in the treatment of loperamide-induced
constipation in Wistar rats
Version: 1Date:24 March 2010
Reviewer: Anwar Gilani
Reviewer's report:
Major Essential Revisions
1. 1st paragraph of the study is redundant and be removed. Ideally the number of
animals should have been at least 5 in each group
2. In “Method” section of the abstract, mention the dose of loperamide instead of
writing just loperamide.
3. It is necessary that authors must provide a short detail for all statistical
parameters used, in the methodology section of the manuscript. It would be
advisable to consult a statistician if possible. Statistics used in this study is not
clear. It is important to use appropriate statistics to show a dose-dependent
effect. In Figure 1 and Table 2, statistical symbols (b and c) were used to
compare with the symbol a, while no characteristics values have been assigned
to these symbolic representation, hence, no one can make a clue about whether
the effect is dose-dependent or not.
4. Senokot, which is used as positive control, is in fact a constipation relieving
drug, hence, the terminology used “constipation drug” be replaced with “laxative
drug throughout the text.
5. In Table 2, the authors want to observe the effect of treatment on constipation
model, while they compared the data with normal control, which is not
appropriate. Show a comparison of the treatment groups with constipation control
instead of normal control and also mention the statistical parameter used, and
the difference between b, c and d (symbols used for significance level).
Minor Essential Revisions
Revise bibliography and use only the first alphabet in capital letter while writing
the name of plant in italic format.
Throughout the manuscript either use “h” or “hrs” to represent hours but
consistently or as justified following the instruction from the journal.
Corrections
Page no. 2, Paragraph no. 1, line no. 3-4; replace “in the treatment of” with “was
studied
against” and also remove was investigated.
Page no. 3, Paragraph no. 2, line no. 3; replace surfer with suffer
Page no. 3, Paragraph no. 3, line no. 1; replace “chemotherapeutic agent” with
“chemical
drug”
Page no. 4, Paragraph no. 2, line no. 13; Is it a standard constipation drug or
standard
laxative drug ?
Page no. 5, Paragraph no. 1, line no. 1; replace “Pty” with “Pvt”
Page no. 5, Paragraph no. 1, line no. 1; replace “reagent” with “reagents”
Page no.7, Paragraph no 1. line no. 9; replace plant name in italic format
Page no.10, Paragraph no 1. line no. 9-10; Please reconsider the statement “ the
possible
mechanism of the extract in this process may be by
enhancing the absorption of fluid and increasing
the intestinal secretion.
In Figure and Table legends; add “the aqueous extract of ” before Aloe frox
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
assistant