<span style="font-size: 20.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Evaluation of methanolic extract of <i>Ficus platyphylla </i>on <span style="font-size: 20.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">gastrointestinal activity </span></span>

Abstract

<span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Methanolic extract of <i><span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Ficus platyphylla </span></i><span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">was tested on isolated rabbit jejunum, rat duodenum and gastrointestinal motility in mice. The extract showed a biphasic effect on isolated smooth muscle. Lower concentration or extract caused contraction, while higher concentrations produced relaxation. The contractile phase was attenuated by atropine, while relaxant phase attenuated histamine induced contraction or guinea pig ileum. The extract also exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of gastrointestinal motility. Acute toxicity test in mice established LD^{<span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">50</span>}<span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""=""> <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">value (ip) or the extract to be 2000 mg/kg.

<span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Preliminary phytochemical screening or the extract gave positive test for flavonoids, tannins and saponins.

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