Anti-diarrhoeal activities of the root bark methanol extract of Delonix regia in rats

Nigeria). Abstract: The methanol extract of the root bark of Delonix regia was tolerated at the highest oral test dose of 4000 mg/kg in rats. The extract demonstrated significant anti-diarrhoea effects in three standard experimental models: castor oil-induced diarrhoea test, gastrointestinal motility test and castor oil-induced enteropooling test. The extract gave 61% and 89% inhibition of the experimentally-induced diarrhoea at 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively. In gastro-intestinal motility test, the transit point for 200 mg/kg extract was 24% and that of 400 mg/kg extract was 26% compared to 44% in the control. In enteropooling test, the root bark extract also demonstrated appreciable potency at 200 and 400 mg/kg in suppressing intraluminal fluid accumulation with resultant reduction in the weight and volume of the rat intestinal contents. The effects of the extract could be due to increase in the absorption of electrolytes and inhibition of the hypermotility of the intestine. The results of the study did not only support the folkloric use of the plant in diarrhoea therapy but also revealed the root bark of D. regia as a potential source of novel anti-diarrhoeal agents.