Background: The indigenous medical system of India mentions the use of Murraya koenigii leaves for the treatment of different types of diarrheas over ages.
Objective: To evaluate the anti-diarrheal activity of hydro-alcoholic extracts of leaves of Murraya koenigii and to check its effects on intestinal transits in experimental rat model.
Materials and methods: The hydro-alcoholic extract of Murraya koenigii leaves was obtained with Soxhlet extraction method. Animals were divided into four groups (n = 6) receiving daily for three consecutive days: vehicle, standard drug atropine (3mg/kg, i.p.), leaf extracts 200 & 400 mg/kg respectively in oral route. Effects of the drugs on normal defecation were noted and then castor oil induced diarrhea was used to measure the effects of leaf extract on stool frequency and consistency. Finally, charcoal meal test was used to evaluate the effect of the extract on intestinal transit. Statistical evaluation was done using SPSS version 17, one way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's t-test was done and P< 0.001 was considered as significant.
Results: Murraya koenigii leaf extracts in 200 and 400 mg/kg dose reduced stool frequency, increased stool consistency and increased small intestinal transit time.
Conclusion: Hydro-alcoholic extract of Murraya koenigii leaves possesses significant anti-diarrheal activity due to its inhibitory effect on gastrointestinal motility, making it useful for a wide number of gastrointestinal diseases.
Keywords: Murraya koenigii; anti-diarrheal activity; castor oil induced diarrhea; hydro-alcoholic extracts; intestinal motility.