Phytochemical analysis and in vivo antidirrhoeal potentials of Dialium guineense (Wild) stem bark extract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the in vivo anti-diarrhoeal activity of methanolic stem bark extract of Dialium guineense used traditionally as remedy for gastrointestinal disorder in South- Western Nigeria. The effect of the extract at oral dosesof 50-200 mg/kg body weight on the castor oil-induced diarrhoea, gastrointestinal motility (charcoal meal) and castor oil-induced intestinal fluid accumulation (enteropooling) were examined in rats. The extract employed produced a dose dependent and significant (P<0.05) reduction (32.30 - 80.81%) in the watery nature and frequency of faecal droppings over 4hours, while loperamide gave 85.81% reduction. On gastrointestinal motility and enteropoolings, the extract also dose-dependently reduced (P<0.05) the small intestinal transit of charcoal meal (28.90 - 45.54%) and intestinal fluid volume (46.27 - 73.88%) in amanner comparableto 5mg/kg each of atropine (58.20% motility time inhibition) and loperamide (76.12% enteropooling inhibition). The acute toxicity and lethality studies on the extract revealed an oral LD50 value greater than 5000 mg/kg in mice. The phytochemicals detected in the extract were cardiac glycosides, tannins, phlobatannins, saponins, terpenoids, resins, steroids/triterpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars and carbohydrates.The findings from this study suggest that methanolic extract of D. guineense stem bark possesses antidiarrhoeal property, probably by anti-secretory mechanism and thus, substantiate the traditional application of the bark extract in the treatment of diarrhoea in Nigeria. [J Intercult Ethnopharmacol 2012; 1(2.000): 105-110