Evaluation of anti-diarrhoeal activity of the bark of Terminalia arjuna [Roxb]

Abstract

Among medicinal plants Terminalia arjuna [Roxb] has been recommended for several disorders in folk medicine. Indian Materia and Medica describe the use of bark of Terminalia arjuna in the treatment of various ailments. The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal effect of methanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna (META) family: Combretaceae by using castor oil and gastro intestinal motility test. At various doses of (100, 200, 400 mg/kg body wt). The extract showed remarkable anti-diarrhoeal activity evidence by the reduction in the rate of defecation and consistency of faeces. Results are comparable to that of standard drug Loperamide (3mg/kg body wt). The results were statistically significant (p<0.01). The investigation may be exploited for wide range of diarrhoeal stages and further studies are needed to completely understand the mechanism of anti-diarrhoeal ac- tion of Terminalia arjuna bark.