DOI: 10.36347/sajp.2024.v13i01.003

Pages: 23-29

Background and Objectives: In Nigeria, traditional use of medicinal plants, like Chrysophyllum albidum, for diarrhoea persists. This study assessed its effectiveness in treating diarrhoea in rats. Methods: Extract and Fractions from the plant were tested for antidiarrhoea effect. The process involved methanol extraction and fractionation using hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol. Rat models were used to evaluate the effects on castor oil-induced diarrhoea, enteropooling, and gastrointestinal motility. Results: Defecation caused by castor oil-induced diarrhoea was inhibited significantly by 53.55, 78.48 and 74.69 % at 500 mg/kg of methanol extract, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane fraction respectively, and by 50.99 and 63.69 % at 250 and 500 mg/kg of butanol fraction respectively. The volume of intestinal content and weight of intestinal content were reduced by 76.74 and 80 % at 500 mg/kg of ethyl acetate fraction. Also, the volume of intestinal content and weight of intestinal content were reduced by 70.93 and 70.83 % at 500 mg/kg of n-hexane fraction. At 250 and 500 mg/kg, the ethyl acetate fraction inhibited intestinal motility by 58.65% and 76.50% respectively. The n-hexane fraction at 500 mg/kg showed a 66.35% inhibition. Conclusion: These fractions from Chrysophyllum albidum leaves exhibit potential antidiarrhoea compounds, as evidenced across all three study models. Ongoing research aims to isolate these compounds for further investigation.