Anti-diarrhoeal activity of ethanolic heartwood extract of pterocarpus marsupium

Abstract

Diarrhoea is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant's death worldwide. Pterocarpus marsupium is a medicinal herb belonging to the family Fabaceae has been traditionally used in the treatment of diarrhoea. Therefore, the presentc study was designed to investigate antidiarrheal activity of ethanolic heartwood extract of Pterocarpus marsupium (EEPM). The extract was evaluated for an antidiarrheal activity using castor oil and charcoal induced gastrointestinal motility test in rats. EEPM at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg, significantly reduced the frequency and severity of diarrhoea. At the same doses, the extract significantly delayed the intestinal transit of charcoal meal in the test animals as compared to the control. The results of the present study confirm antidiarrheal potential of the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium, thus may provide the scientific basis for the traditional use of this plant as the modality for diarrhoea.