Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Antidiarrhoeal Activity of the Aqueous Extract of Terminalia avicennoides Roots

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2001

Journal Title

Phytotherapy Research

ISSN

0951-418X

Volume

15

Issue

5

First Page

431

Last Page

434

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ptr.860

PubMed ID

11507737

Abstract

The antidiarrhoeal effects of the aqueous root extract of Terminalia avicennoides were evaluated in rodents. Studies were carried out on the isolated rabbit jejunum, gastrointestinal motility in vivo and on castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice. The results revealed that the extract exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of the spontaneous pendular movement of the isolated rabbit jejunum and attenuated acetylcholine induced contractions. The extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) also caused a dose-dependent decrease of gastrointestinal transit and markedly protected mice against castor oil-induced diarrhoea. The intraperitoneal LD50 of the extract was found to be 871.4–917.4 mg/kg in mice (95% confidence). A preliminary phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of T. avicennoides roots revealed the presence of tannins, saponins and flavonoids. The results obtained showed that the water extract of T. avicennoides roots may contain some biologically active principles that may be active against diarrhoea and this may be the basis for its use traditionally for gastrointestinal disorders.

Keywords

Terminalia avicennoides, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal tract, flavonoids

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