Evaluation of the antidiarrhoeal activity of the leaves of Ixora Coccinea Linn. In rats

Abstract

Purpose: Ixora coccinea Linn (Rubiaceae), a small shrub which is cultivated throughout India, has been reported to possess a number of medicinal properties. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the antidiarrhoeal activity of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Ixora coccinea linn which is used traditionally as folk medicine by using a castor oil induced diarrhoea model. Methods: The aqueous extract of the leaves of Ixora coccinea were studied against a castor oil induced diarrhoea model in rats. The gastrointestinal transit rate was expressed as the percentage of the longest distance which was traversed by the charcoal, divided by the total length of the small intestine. The weight and the volume of the intestinal content induced by castor oil were studied by the enteropooling method. Loperamide was used as a positive control. Result: The plant-extract showed significant (P<0.001) inhibitor activity against castor oil induced diarrhoea and castor oil induced enteropooling in rats at the dose of 400 mg/kg. There was significant reduction in gastrointestinal motility by the charcoal meal test in rats. Conclusion: The results obtained by this study substantiate the antidiarrhoeal effects of the aqueous extract and its use by the traditional practitioners in the treatment of diarrhoea.