EVALUATION OF ANTIDIARRHOEAL ACTIVITY OF SIDA RHOMBIFOLIA LINN. ROOT

The root s of Sida rhombifolia are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diarrhoea. Th us the methano lic extract of Sida rhombifolia ( Malva ceae) root was investigated for its antidiarrhoeal property to substantiate folkloric claim. The methanolic extract of Sida rhombifolia , at graded dose (2 0 0 and 4 00 mg/kg body weight) was investigated for antidiarrhoeal activity in castor oil induced diarrhoea. Results were comparable to that of standard drug Diphenoxylate (50mg/kg body weight). A single oral dose of Sida rhombifolia extract of 4 00 mg/kg body weight produced a significant decrease in the s everity of diarrhoea. To understand the mechanism of its antidiarrhoeal activity, its effect was further evaluated on intestinal transit and castor oil induced intestinal fluid accumulation (enteropooling). Extract pro duced profound decrease in intestinal transit ( 57.73 61.84 %) and significantly inhibited castor oil induced enter o pooling comparable to that of intraperitonial injection of standard drug atropine sulphate. The results showed that the methanolic extract of Sida rhombifolia have a significant an tidiarrhoeal activity and supports its traditional uses in herbal medicine.