Antidiarrheal activity of <i>Pterocarpus indicus</i> bark extracts using castor oil-induced diarrhea model on mice

Abstract

This study evaluated the antidiarrheal activity of the bark of Pterocarpus indicus (Narra). The crude methanolic extract of the bark was subjected to sequential extraction using hexane, DCM, and ethyl acetate. These extracts were tested for antidiarrheal activity in vitro using the castor oil induced diarrhea model in mice employing charcoal tracing method. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was used in determining the chemical constituents present in every extracts using spraying reagents to aid in the visualization of spots. Crude methanolic extract dosage 200 mg/kg body weight is the comparable dosage to the reference drug loperamide (2 mg/kg body weight). The hexane extract was the most active fraction and 200 mg/kg dosage was more effective than with the positive control loperamide (2 mg/kg). No antidiarrheal activity found in the fraction of DCM and ethyl acetate extracts. Phytochemical screening revealed positive tests for tannins, phenolics, terpenes, cardiac glycosides, saponins and reducing sugars in all fractions. Tests for flavonoids and alkaloids, however, were negative.