Antidiarrhoeal evaluation of rhizomes of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Cryptocoryne spiralis </i>Fisch. ex Wydler: Antimotility and antisecretory effects

Abstract

The antidiarrhoeal activity of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Cryptocoryne spiralis</i> rhizomes extract (250, 500, 750 mg/kg, po) was evaluated using faecal excretion, castor oil-induced diarrhoea, small intestinal transit, intestinal fluid accumulation, gastric emptying and PGE₂ induced enteropooling models in rats. In addition, various biochemical estimations, histopathological studies and antibacterial evaluations on strains responsible for diarrhoea were also performed. The results illustrated a significant reduction in normal faecal output rate after 5^th and 7^th h of treatment, while castor oil-induced diarrhoea model depicted a protection of 55.44% at same dose level from diarrhoea. The other models except, gastric emptying test demonstrated more pronounced effect at same dose level. A significant inhibition in nitric oxide, increase in carbohydrates, protein, DNA, Na⁺ and K⁺ level with minimum degeneration of colonic fibrous tissues and potent antibacterial activity were also observed. The antidiarrhoeal potential of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">C. spiralis</i> may be as a result of antimotility and antisecretory type effect mediated through nitric oxide pathway.