Phytochemistry and effects of ethanol leaf extract of <i>Meytenus Senengalensis</i> (Lam) on castor-oil induced diarrhoea in albino rats

Abstract

Meytenus senengalensis (Lam). Ethanol leaf extract was investigated for its phytochemical contents as well as anti-diarrhoea effects. The ethanol leaf extract subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening. Graded doses of the extract (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) were administered orally to the three groups of rats (n = 5) before induction of diarrhoea with castor oil. Another two groups of animals were treated with normal saline (control) and loperamide, a conventional anti-diarrhoea drug respectively. Gastro-intestinal transit of charcoal meal and gastro-intestinal enteropooling with the same graded doses of the ethanol leaf extract were used. The extract produced a significant inhibition of the castor-oil induced diarrhoea. The  gastrointestinal transit of charcoal meal was also reduced by the various graded doses of the extract used in this study. The phytochemical analysis of the ethanol leaf extract revealed the presence of secondary metabolites such as cardenolides, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and terpenoids. The findings suggest that, the ethanol leaf extract of M. senengalensis possesses antidiarrhoeal effect, which could be related to inhibition of gastro-intestinal motility and secretion.

Key words: Phytochemical screening; Meytenus senengalensis; Anti-diarrhoea; Albino Rats.