Antidiarrhoeal Effect of Isolated Fraction (JC) of Jatropha curcas Roots in Mice

Abstract

Objective : To study antidiarrhoeal activity of JC fraction isolated from Jatropha curcas L. roots in albino mice. Materials and methods : The roots of Jatropha curcas were collected from Awasari ghat near Pune, Maharashtra. The methanol extract of defatted roots was fractionated by solvent wash and preparative chromatography to yield JC fraction. This fraction at 50 and 100 mg/kg was tested for faecal output in normal and castor oil or magnesium sulphate induced diarrhoea in albino mice. The effect of JC fraction 100mg/kg was also studied on fluid and electrolyte secretion after castor oil administration and charcoal meal adsorption. Results : JC fraction showed activity against castor oil and magnesium sulphate induced diarrhoea . It also reduced intestinal motility as well as castor oil induced increased intraluminal fluid and sodium ion secretion in small intestine. Conclusion : JC fraction shows antidiarrhoeal activity through inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis and reduction of osmotic pressure. It also decreases peristaltic activity and castor oil induced permeability changes in intestinal mucosal membrane to water and electrolyte.