Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ACUTE TOXICITY AND ANTIDIARRHEAL ACTIVITY OF EUPHORBIA HELIOSCOPIA PLANT

Shalaby M. A.*, Soliman A. M. and Al-Saffaf A. M. B.

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to detect the bioactive chemical constituents, determine oral acute toxicity (LD50) and evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of Euphorbia helioscopia aqueous and alcoholic extracts. Chemical tests for the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, tannins, resins, sterol and/or triterpenes and flavonoids in both extracts were carried out using standard analytical procedures. The safety of both extracts was tested by estimation of oral acute LD50 in mice. The antidiarrheal effect was studied using both castor oil-induced diarrhea in rats and charcoal meal test in mice. Phytochemical screening of Euphorbia helioscopia revealed that both extracts of Euphorbia Helioscopia contained large concentrations of flavonoids, glycosides, tannins and saponins and low concentrations of alkaloids. The oral acute LD50 of Euphorbia Helioscopia the aqueous extract was 5166 mg/kg and of the alcoholic extract was 4833 mg/kg in mice, indicating high safety of the plant. Both extracts provoked a good antidiarrheal effect in rats and mice. In conclusion, Euphorbia helioscopia plant contains several bioactive chemical constituents and has high safety in mice. Extracts of Euphorbia Helioscopia produce a potent antidiarrheal effect and this finding affirms the traditional use of this plant in folk medicine for the treatment of diarrhea.

Keywords: *Euphorbia helioscopia *Phytochemical screening *Acute toxicity *Antidiarrheal activity.