EVALUATION OF CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA ROOT IN EXPERIMENTAL DIARRHEA

Abstract

Calotropis gigantea is a wasteland weed and considered a medicinal plant in India. Invivo antidiarrheal activity of an ethanolic extract of ‘Akondmul’ (Calotropis gigantea root extract - CGE) was investigated in wistar rats by Castor oil induced diarrhea, enteropooling assay and small intestinal transit models. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids and tannins. CGE showed dose dependent decrease in diarrhea at three doses 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg in all the three experimental models. CGE reduced the mean fecal output in castor oil induced diarrhea which indicated reduction in diarrheal symptoms. It also reduced the intestinal fluid accumulation resulting in a decrease in the weight and volume of intestinal fluids indicating some prostaglandin inhibitory action. CGE could also reduce the small intestinal transit suggesting an anti motility effect. The anti diarrheal effects were found to be significant (p<0.05) at 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg in all the models. The study shows anti diarrheal potential of Calotropis gigantea roots which can be exploited as a cheap and effective remedy in non specific and infectious diarrheas.