ANTIMOTILITY AND ANTISECRETORY RELATED ANTIDIARRHOEAL ACTIVITY OF THE ABELMOSCHUS MOSCHATUS MEDIK IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL MODELS

Objective: This study was intended to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal potential of Abelmoschus moschatus Medik ( A. moschatus Medik) seeds and the possible mechanism therein involved by using different experimental models in albino Wistar rats. Methods: The hydroalcoholic seed extract of A. moschatus Medik. (HEAM) was orally administered at the doses of 150, 300 and 500 mg/kg respectively to the different groups in order to assess the effect of extract in castor oil induced diarrhea model in rats. In order to comprehend the mechanism involved in its anti-diarrhoeal potential, the extract was further investigated for its effect on gastrointestinal motility using charcoal meal test and antisecretory action by castor oil induced intestinal enter pooling where, atropine sulphate (5 mg/kg) and loperamide (2 mg/kg) were used as reference standards respectively. Results: The HEAM exhibited significant (p<0.05, p<0.001) and dose-dependent anti-diarrhoeal effect by decreasing the mean number of fecal droppings produced upon castor oil administration as compared to the normal control. The effect of the extract at 500 mg/kg was near to that of loperamide (2 mg/kg). The extract (300 mg/kg) showed antimotility action by significantly (p<0.05, p<0.001) attenuating the charcoal meal transit in the intestine as compared to negative control animals. Further, the extract showed significant (p<0.05, p<0.001) inhibition in the accumulation of intestinal fluid due to castor oil. Conclusion: The HEAM exhibited significant anti-diarrhoeal action that could be presumably related to its observed antimotility and antisecretory activities. This study justifies the usage of A. moschatus Medik. as an anti-diarrhoeal agent in traditional practices of medicine.