title: In vivo evaluation of antidiarrhoeal activity of Rhus semialata fruit extract in rats.
abstract: Rhus semialata Murr. (Anacardiaceae) is a deciduous tree of north eastern India. The fruit of this plant is traditionally used to control diarrhoea and dysentery. The Present study was undertaken to evaluate anti-diarrhoeal potency of methanol extract of fruits of R. semialata using Wister albino rats to substantiate folklore claims. The extract at graded doses (100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight) was investigated for anti-diarrhoeal activity in term of reduction in the rate of defecation in castor oil induced diarrhoea. To understand the mechanism of its antidiarrhoeal activity, the gastrointestinal transit and PGE(2)-induced intestinal fluid accumulation (enteropooling) were further evaluated. At graded doses, the extract showed a remarkable anti-diarrhoeal activity evidenced by the reduction in the rate of defecation up to 80.70% of control diarrhoeal animals at the dose of 600 mg/kg body weight. Results are comparable to that of standard drug diphenoxylate (50 mg/kg body weight). Extract produced profound decrease in intestinal transit (8.02-47.05%) at selected doses comparable to that of single intraperitoneal injection of standard drug atropine sulphate at doses of 0.1 mg/kg body weight. It significantly inhibited PGE(2)-induced enteropooling (21.98-56.03%). The results indicated that the methanol extract of the fruits of R. semialata possesses significant anti-diarrhoeal effect and substantiated the use of this herbal remedy as a non-specific treatment for diarrhoea in folk medicine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Himalayan Pharmacy Institute, Majhitar, East Sikkim 737136, Sikkim, India.
authors.forename: Sekhar K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.forename: Saikat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dewanjee
authors.forename: Avijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sen Gupta
authors.forename: Kartick C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.forename: Mintu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.forename: Subhash C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mandal