ANTIDIARRHOEAL ACTIVITY OF LEAF EXTRACT OF ANOGEISSUS LATIFOLIA WALL IN EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED DIARRHOEA IN RATS

Aim: To evaluate the antidiarrhoeal activity of methanolic leaf extract of Anogeissus latifolia. Material and Methods: The methanolic extract was evaluated using rodent animal models like castor-oil induced diarrhoea and castor-oil induced enteropooling. The phytochemical constituents were also planned to screen by using standardized methods. The plant is traditionally used for the treatment of dysentery, snakebite, lepsory, diabetes, wounds and ulcers & skin diseases. Thus, the present study is therefore undertaken to investigate the antidiarrhoeal activity. Result: The methanolic extract of Anogeissus latifolia given orally at the dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg, showed significant antidiarrhoeal activity in castor oil induced diarrhoea by decreasing fecal episodes, and castor oil induced enteropooling by decreasing the volume of intestinal fluid. Conclusion: The results suggested that the extract may contain biologically active component that may be useful against diarrhoea, thereby validating its mention in the ancient Indian texts and justifying its use in ethanomedical practice.