PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIDIARRHEAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC FRESH ROOT BARK EXTRACT OF MONDIA WHITEI IN ALBINO RATS

The study was condu cted to validate the anti diarrheal activity of ethanolic fresh root bark extract of Mondia whit e i using white albino rats. We also determined the acute toxicity and phytochemical composition of the extract. The study was carried out in May, 2013. The ethanolic extract of root bark of Mondia whit e i was evaluated for castor oil induced diarrhea , as well as Transit time and enteropooling activity in wistar Albino ra ts. Phytochemical screening and acute toxicity were also determined . Each treatment group of the respecti ve doses used contained six study animals . Doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight were us ed in the respective experimental set - up groups with l ope ramide and a tropine sulphate used as positive control while n ormal saline was used as negative control in all study set up s . The ethanolic fresh root bark extracts of Mondia white i showed s trong presence o f s aponins, phenols, alkaloids and tannins which ar e known to have antidiarrhea l activity. The study revealed statistically significant (p < 0.05), dose - dependent anti diar rh e a l and enteropooling activity , but also reduced transit distance , with the dose of 600 mg/ kg being highly significant (p < 0.001) as compared to the other treatment groups. The mean lethal dose (LD 50 ) was above 5000 mg/kg in mice . T he study showed that the ethanolic fresh root bark extract of Mondi a whit e i has a nti diarrheal activity and it’s safe for use, thus corroborates with its tr aditional use. The anti - diarrheal action may be linked partly to direct inhibitory effect of the extract on the propulsive movement of the gastrointestinal tract smooth muscle, increased electrolytes and fluid absorption and infiltration in the tissue . Ke ywords: Mondia whit e i ; Phytochemical; Antidiar r h e a l; transit time ; Enteropooling; Root Bark