Evaluation of antidiarrheal activity of ethanolic stem bark extract of Albizzia lebbeck Linn. in rats

Abstract

The present study was performed to substantiate the traditional claim of the antidiarrheal activity of stem bark extractof Albizzia lebbeck Linn. in rats. The effects of ethanolic extract of the stem bark of A. lebbeck on castor oil-induced diarrhea,castor oil magnesium sulphate-induced enteropooling, and gastrointestinal motility test using charcoal meal method wereexamined. The extract was initially assayed for its effects in castor oil-induced diarrhea at different doses (250, 500, and 1000mg/kg, p.o.) in which significant activity (p<0.05) was observed at a dose level of 500 mg/kg. Hence, this dose level was thenused in other models. The extract was found to inhibit peristaltic movements in charcoal meal test, and intestinal fluid secretionsin castor oil as well as magnesium sulphate induced enteropooling, confirming its antidiarrheal activity, which might bedue to its high flavonoid content. The results provide evidence that the ethanolic extract of A. lebbeck stem bark possessesantidiarrheal activity.

Keywords

• Albizzia lebbeck
• diarrhea
• castor oil
• charcoal meal
• enteropooling