title: Anti-diarrhoeal activity of the latex of Calotropis procera.
abstract: The dry latex (DL) of Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae), a potent anti-inflammatory agent has been evaluated for anti-diarrhoeal activity. Like atropine and phenylbutazone (PBZ), a single oral dose of DL (500 mg/kg) produced a significant decrease in frequency of defecation, severity of diarrhoea and afforded protection from diarrhoea in 80% rats treated with castor oil. To understand the mechanism of its anti-diarrhoeal activity, we further evaluated its effect on intestinal transit, castor oil induced intestinal fluid accumulation (enteropooling) and electrolyte concentration in the intestinal fluid. DL produced a decrease in intestinal transit (27-37%) as compared to both normal and castor oil treated animals. Unlike atropine, DL significantly inhibited castor oil induced enteropooling. However, it did not alter the electrolyte concentration in the intestinal fluid as compared to castor oil treated rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, 110 029, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dewan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sangraula
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002368:Castor Oil / Q000633:toxicity; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects; D007840:Latex / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D007840:Latex; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002368:Castor Oil