EVALUATION OF ANTIDIARRHEAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF ERIOBOTRYA JAPONICA LINDL

摘要

Objective: The study was carried out to investigate the antidiarrheal activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Eriobotrya japonica (EEJ) using various models of experimental diarrhea. Methods: Antidiarrheal property of EEJ at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/bwt was evaluated using castor oil-induced diarrhea, castor oil-induced enteropooling, and gastrointestinal propulsive models of experimental diarrhea in Sprague Dawley rats of both sexes, weighing 200–250 g. Cytotoxicity test of EEJ was performed using brine shrimp bioassay. Results: Toxicity assay of EEJ showed a lethal concentration value of 1225 μg/ml suggesting non-toxicity. EEJ significantly (p0.05) and dose-dependently (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/bwt) inhibited castor oil-induced diarrhea by 38.1%, 76.19%, and 100%, respectively, and enteropooling by 28%, 56%, and 88%, respectively, compared with control. Pre-treatment with yohimbine, α2-adrenoceptor blocker significantly reversed the protective effect of EEJ (400 mg/kg) against castor oil-induced diarrhea and against castor oil-induced enteropooling, suggesting the involvement of α2-adrenoceptors in antidiarrheal property of EEJ. Furthermore, EEJ significantly (p0.05) and dosedependently (100, 200, and 400 mg/Kg/bwt) inhibited gastrointestinal motility by 28%, 62%, and 83.92%, respectively. Conclusion: The study has demonstrated the antidiarrheal potential of ethanolic leaf extract of EEJ , which may be attributable to its dual antisecretory and antimotility activities probably through activation of the sympathetic α2-adrenergic pathway.