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Phytochemical and anti-diarrheal studies of <i>Bauhinia rufescens</i> Lam


H Hassan
M Sule
A Musa
F Oyinloye

Abstract

Bauhinia rufescens Lam, family Leguminosae – Caesalpinoideae, an economic, ornamental and medicinal plant with fruits edible to human and animals, was subjected to phytochemical and anti-diarrheal studies. The
phytochemical screening of the leaves, roots and stem bark showed the presence of saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, sterols and terpenes. The methanol extract of the leaves showed 100 percent protection at dose levels of 125 and 250mg/kg in castor oil-induced diarrheal study in mice. This activity was comparable to 5mg/kg of loperamide. The extract at bath concentration of 0.04 – 0.32 mg/ml produced a relaxation of the rabbitjejunum and median lethal dose (LD50) of 1265 mg/kg intraperitoneally in mice. This result supports the traditional use of the plant as anti-diarrheal agent.

Keywords: Bauhinia rufescens, Anti-diarrheal activity, Phytochemical constituents.


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eISSN: 0189-8442