ANTIDIARRHEAL ACTIVITY OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF SORGHUM VULGARE L. IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS
The objective of the study was to investigate scientifically the anti-diarrhoeal effects of methanol extract of leaves of Sorghum vulgare Linn (MESV) was studied against experimental diarrheoa induced by castor oil in albino Wistar rats. Antidiarrhoeal activity of methanol extract of Sorghum vulgare was investigated in this study using castor oil-induceddiarrhoea, enteropooling and Small intestinal transit models in rats. The weight and volume of intestinal content induced by castor oil were studied by enteropooling method. Standard drug diphenoxylate (5 ml/kg, p.o) was significant reductions in fecal output and frequency of droppings whereas MESV at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o significantly (P<0.001) reduced the castor-oil induced frequency and consistency of diarrhoea and enteropooling. The gastrointestinal transit rate was expressed as the percentage of the longest distance travelled by the charcoal divided by the total length of the small intestine. MESV at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly inhibited (P<0.001) the castor oil induced charcoal meal transit. The reduction in the weight and volume of the intestinal contents, fecal frequencies and intestinal enteropooling decreased with an increase in the dose of test samples. The results of our study, being reported for the first time, provide clear evidence that the methanol extract of Sorghum vulgare leaves possess antidiarrheal activities.