The purpose of the present study was to evaluate scientifically the anti-diarrhoeal effects of methanolic extract of leaves of Crotalaria juncea Linn. (MECJ) was studied against castor oil-induceddiarrhoea model and small intestine transit model in rats. Anti-diarrhoeal activity of methanolic extract of leaves of Crotalaria juncea Linn. was investigated in this study using castor oil induced diarrhoea, Small intestinal transit models in rats.The number of droppings and the distance traveled by charcoal in intestine were measured. Standard drug Atropine (3 mg/kg, p.o) was shown significant reductions in fecal output and\n frequency of droppings whereas MECJ at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o significantly (P<0.001)\n reduced the castor-oil induced frequency and consistency of diarrhoea. The gastrointestinal transit rate was expressed as the percentage of the longest distance travelled by the charcoal divided by the total length of the small intestine. MECJ at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly inhibited (P<0.001) the castor oil induced charcoal meal transit. The MECJ showed marked reduction in the number of diarrhoea stools as well as a modest reduction in intestinal transit. The results obtained establish the efficacy and substantiate the folklore claim as an anti- diarrhoeal agent. Further studies are needed to completely understand the mechanism of anti-diarrhoeal action of Crotalaria juncea Linn.
Journal Citation
2(2):66-70, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRECLINICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH
