Antidiarrhoeal and antiulcerogenic effects of methanolic extract of Asparagus pubescens root in rats

Abstract The effect of methanolic extract of Asparagus pubescens root on experimentally-induced diarrhoea and ulceration was investigated in rats. The extract (500–1500 mg/kg) dose-dependently, reduced significantly the intestinal propulsive movement, castor oil-induced diarrhoea and intestinal fluid accumulation. Yohimbine an α 2 -adrenoceptor blocker attenuated the antidiarrhoeal effect of the extract. The extract also reduced the ulcer indices induced by indomethacin and ethanol in a dose-related manner. The results indicate that its antidiarrhoeal and antiulcerogenic effects might in part be due to its α 2 -adrenoceptor stimulation and its active constituents respectively.