Evaluation of antidiarrheal properties of leaf extracts of Acioa barteri (Chrysobalanaceae) in Wister albino mice

Diarrhea remains one of the most important health issues worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates, accounting for more than two million deaths annually. Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is central to the management of diarrhea, and is sufficient to prevent complications due to dehydration in most patients while the disease runs its course. However, ORT has no effect on the duration of the disease or frequency of bowel motions, and any agent that could meet these needs would therefore be a useful addition to ORT. The aim of the study is to evaluate the antidiarrheal properties of the leaf extract of Acioa barteri (Chrysobalanaceae) in Winster albino mice. The pulverized leaves were extracted by cold maceration using methanol with for three (3) days.Castor oil (1ml/kg) was used to induce diarrhea in mice through the oral route of administration followed by two different doses of plant extract (250mg/kg and 500mg/kg) administered orally to the test groups while Loperamide (2mg/kg body weight) was used as the positive control. Gastrointestinal motility test (Charcoal meal test) and Castor oil induced enteropooliong were also used to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of A. barteri. All samples were administered once, and the duration of the study was six hours. The result shows that in castor oil induced diarrhea, the extract, 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg showed significant inhibition of defecation by 43.52 % and 71.48 % respectively and 2mg/kg of loperamide showed an inhibition of 70.80 %. The gastrointestinal motility test of the extract, 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg showed significant inhibition of defecation by 40.66% and 80.48% respectively while 2mg/kg of loperamide showed an inhibition of 78.92 %. From the result of the castor oil induced enteropooling, the extract, 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg showed significant inhibition of defecation by 51.27 % and 82.41 % respectively and 2mg/kg of loperamide showed an inhibition of 79.89%. The result clearly indicates antidiarrheal properties of Acioa barteri leaf extract, which could be a therapeutic option against diarrheal disease and useful therapeautic addition to the oral rehydration therapy.