Objective: To evaluate the pharmacological activity against diarrhea of methanol and petroleum ether extract of Desmodium puchellum (Family: Fabaceae) leaves.
Methods: The extract was evaluated for castor oil-induced diarrhea and enteropooling as well as intestinal motility in rats. Both of the extracts were given to the rats at 200 mg/kg orally. Loperamide was used as a standard drug for diarrhea.
Results: The diarrheal severity was reduced significantly (P<0.05) by methanol and petroleum ether extracts by 31.95% and 28.33%, respectively, whereas 54.75% inhibition was found for standard drug loperamide at 5 mg/kg. The two extracts also significantly (P<0.05) reduced the intestinal volume in case of castor oil induced enteropooling.
Conclusions: It is concluded that both fractions contain some biologically active ingredients that are active for anti-diarrheal actions whereas methanol fraction has better potential.
Keywords: Antidiarrhea; Desmodium puchellum; Loperamide; Thrombolysis.