Anti-diarrhoeal Activity of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Indigofera purpurea Aerial Part, by Using Castor Oil-induced Diarrhoeal Model in Mice

The present study was carried out to test the potential effects of indigofera purpurea ethyl acetate extract on gastrointestinal (GIT) motility in mice and intestinal smooth muscle using rabbit ileum with particular emphasis on the anti-diarrhea effects. We also assessed how these extracts affected isolated rabbit ileum that had been perfused. The rabbit ileum relaxed in response to the ethyl acetate extract in a dose-dependent manner. The ethyl acetate extract of aerial parts produced a dose dependent protection against the castor oil-induced diarrhoea with the highest protection (85%) at a dose level of 600mg/kg comparable to that of loperamide (6mg/kg) the standard agent. The preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed that the extract contained tannins, steroids, alkaloids, saponnis and flavonoids. The acute toxicity test revealed no mortality upto the dose of 4500mg/kg. The results revealed that the ethyl acetate extract of Indigofera purpurea aerial part possess pharmacological activity against diarrhoea. Anti-diarrhea activity of thye extract may also be due to the presence of denatured proteins, which form protein tannates. Protein tannates make the intestinal mucosa more resistance and hence, reduce secretion. This can be due to the fact that the extract increased the reabsorption of by decreasing intestinal motility in isolated rabbit ileum.