Preliminary Evaluation of Anti Diarrheal Ulcer Protective (original) (raw)
Ficus trichopoda, Baker, is a medicinal plant belonging to the Moraceae family used popularly as a 'multi-purpose' herb in Uganda. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-diarrheal, ulcer protective effects of 70% ethanolic extract of Ficus trichopoda stem bark (FTE) and its acute toxicity. The anti-diarrheal effect was evaluated using castor-oil induced diarrhea model while anti-ulcer effect was evaluated using ethanol-induced ulcer model using rats. Loperamide and misoprostol were used as standard drugs for diarrhea and ulcer studies respectively. The extract was administered orally at three different doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg. Acute toxicity was evaluated by oral administration of the extract at 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg/kg body weight in mice. The extract exhibited a graded dose-dependent inhibition of the castor oil induced diarrhea. The onset-time and severity of diarrhea was significantly reduced (p<0.05). Anti-diarrhea activity exerted was significant at 250 mg/kg (66.67% inhibition) and maximal at 500 mg/kg (88.89% inhibition). The inhibition at 500 mg/kg compared well with the standard drug, Loperamide which produced 100% inhibition of diarrhea in rats. Also, oral administration of FTE produces a dose-dependent inhibition of ethanol-induced gastric ulcer with maximal effect at 500 mg/kg (49.05%). The oral LD 50 value obtained was >4000 mg/kg in mice. Preliminary phytochemical screenings indicated the presence of reducing sugar, alkaloids, saponnins, pyrocathecolic tannins and free amino acids/amines. This study confirmed the antidiarrheal properties of this plant as it is used in traditional medicine.
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