Antidiarrheal Properties of Aqueous Extract of Tectona grandis L.f. (Lamiaceae) in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Diarrhea is a real public health problem. Each year, more than half a million children die from this disease worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antidiarrheal properties of Tectona grandis aqueous extract (EATg) in rats. To conduct this study, the control group received distilled water. Rats in groups 2, 3, and 4 (test groups) were first treated with the extract at doses of 150, 300, and 900 mg/kg BW, respectively, and then orally administered castor oil. After diarrhea induction with castor oil, rats in groups 2, 3, and 4 (test groups) were treated with EATg at doses of 150, 300, and 900 mg/kg BW, respectively. In both sets of experiments, their diarrheal stools are counted. Their intestines are isolated and emptied to determine the volume of intestinal contents. The duration of intestinal transit is also measured using activated charcoal as a marker. The results showed that doses of 150, 300 and 900 mg/kg BW dose-dependently reduced the occurrence and number of diarrheal stools and thus reduced the severity of diarrhea. EATg also led to a reduction in the volume of intestinal contents and a reduction in intestinal mobility compared to controls. This extract therefore has antidiarrheal properties, comparable to those of loperamide (reference antidiarrheal), and antispasmodic properties similar to those of atropine sulfate (reference antispasmodic).