Fitoterapia. 2002 Feb; 73(1): 43-7.

Antidiarrhoeal activity of Strychnos potatorum seed extract in rats.

Biswas S, Murugesan T, Sinha S, Maiti K, Gayen JR, Pal M, Saha BP.

Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Jadavpur University, Calcutta 700 032, India.

The antidiarrhoeal activity of the methanol extract of the dried seeds of Strychnos potatorum (MESP) has been evaluated out in rats using different models (castor oil-induced diarrhoea, effects on gastrointestinal motility and on PGE(2)-induced gastric enteropooling. MESP (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (P<0.001) inhibited the frequency of defaecation and reduced the wetness of faecal droppings in castor oil-induced diarrhoea, decreased the propulsion of charcoal meal through the gastrointestinal tract, and also reduced the PGE(2)-induced enteropooling.