title: Antidiarrhoeal activity of leaf methanolic extract of Rauwolfia serpentina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antidiarrhoeal property of methanol extract of the leaves of Rauwolfia serpentina (R. serpentina) in experimental diarrhoea induced by castor oil in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg R. serpentina leaf methanol extracts were administered to castor oil induced diarrhoea mice to determine its antidiarrhoeal activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All doses of the extract and the reference drug atropine sulphate (3 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a dose-dependent reduction in intestinal weight and fluid volume. The extracts also significantly reduced the intestinal transit in charcoal meal test when compared to diphenoxylate Hcl (5 mg/kg, p.o.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that the extract of R. serpentina leaves has a significant antidiarrhoeal activity and supports its traditional uses in herbal medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: I I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Ezeigbo
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ezeja
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Madubuike
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ifenkwe
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Ukweni
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Udeh
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Akomas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011926:Rauwolfia / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antidiarrhoeal activity; Castor oil; Intestinal transit; Rauwolfia serpentina