Anti-diarrheal activity of leaf extract of Juniperus procera and its effect on intestinal motility in albino mice

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the anti-diarrheal property of Juniperus procera using albino mice. An aqueous extract of J. procera leaves was administered to albino mice at 150, 300, and 450 mg kg^-1 (p.o). Wet feces, intestinal accumulation (enteropooling) and intestinal motility were rec-orded. The aqueous extract of J. procera significantly (p < 0.0001) decreased the mean number of wet faeces produced by the albino mice in a dose dependent manner as well as decreasing the dis-tance travelled by the charcoal meal (p < 0.0001) from 28.5 ± 1.1 cm when treated with 150 mg kg-1 to 11.8 ± 0.5 cm when treated with 450 mg kg^-1 through 20.0 ± 1.0 cm when treated with 300 mg kg^-1. Results obtained for the extract especially the 450 mg kg^-1 dose was almost equivalent to diphe-noxylate and atropine sulphate (the reference drugs used). In conclusion, aqueous extract of J. procera demonstrated anti-diarrheal activity and could be an inexpensive and readily available anti-diarrheal remedy.