| RESEARCH PAPER |
|
| Year : 2006 | Volume
: 38
| Issue : 5 | Page : 346-349 |
Pharmacological investigation of Cardiospermum halicacabum (Linn) in different animal models of diarrhoea
N Venkat Rao, K Chandra Prakash, SM Shanta Kumar
Deptartment of Pharmacology, V. L. College of Pharmacy, Raichur-584103, India
Correspondence Address:
N Venkat Rao
Deptartment of Pharmacology, V. L. College of Pharmacy, Raichur-584103
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.27703
Objective: To evaluate the antidiarrhoeal activity of whole plant extracts of Cardiospermum halicacabum (Linn) in rats.
Materials and Methods: Petroleum ether (PeCH) and alcoholic (AlCH) extracts of whole plant of Cardiospermum halicacabum (Linn) were prepared, with successive extraction in soxhlet apparatus and aqueous (AqCH) extract, by the maceration process. LD50 studies for all the three extracts were carried out up to the dose limit of 2000 mg/kg in albino mice. One-fifth of the maximum dose of LD50 of each extract was selected to study the antidiarrhoeal activity in different experimental models such as castor oil-induced diarrhoea, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-induced enteropooling and charcoal meal test in rats.
Results: Preliminary phytochemical studies revealed the presence of sterols, carbohydrates, tannins and triterpenes in the PeCH extract; sterols, saponins, carbohydrates, flavonoids and tannins in the AlCH extract; sterols, saponins, carbohydrates, flavonoids and tannins in the AqCH extract. No mortality was observed with any of the three extracts up to the maximum dose of 2000 mg/kg. Further, all the three extracts at 400 mg/kg, p.o . had significantly ( P < 0.01) reduced the fecal output in castor oil-induced diarrhoea, intestinal secretions in PGE2 -induced enteropooling and peristaltic movement in charcoal meal test, indicating antidiarrhoeal activity.
Conclusion: The present study revealed the antidiarrhoeal activity of the extracts of Cardiospermum halicacabum, which may be due to the presence of phytochemical constituents such as sterols, tannins, flavonoids and triterpenes.
[FULL TEXT] [PDF]*
|
