Abstract

ANTI-DIARRHEAL ACTIVITY OF HYDRO ALCOHOLIC EXTRACTS OF LEAVES OF CATHARANTHUS PUSILLUS IN RATS

Tejasri Alla*, Swetha Naram Reddy, Azmath Farhana and Vasudha Bakshi

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate scientifically the antidiarrheal effect of Catharanthus pusillus using castor oil-induced diarrhoea model. The anti-diarrheal effect of aqueous and alcoholic extract of leaves of Catharanthus pusillus was studied against castor oil-induced-diarrhea model in rats. The gastrointestinal transit rate was expressed as the percentage of the longest distance traversed by the charcoal divided by the total length of the small intestine. The weight and volume of intestinal content induced by castor oil were studied by enteropooling method. Like atropine (3mg/kg, i.p.) there were significant reductions in fecal output and frequency of droppings when the plant extracts of aqueous 100 and 200 mg/kg doses were administered intraperitoneally compared with castor oil treated rats. All doses of the plant extract significantly retarded the castor-oil induced enteropooling and intestinal transit. The remarkable anti-diarrheal effect of Catharanthus pusillus extract against castor oil-induced diarrhea model attests to its utility in a wide range of diarrheal states.

Keywords: Catharanthus pusillus, Anti-Diarroheal, Castor oil, Atropine.