Ethanol leaf extract of Dialium guineense produces anti-diarrhoeal and gastrointestinal motility slowing activities in Wistar rats

Dialium guineense leaves have been traditionally used for the treatment of diarrhoeal diseases in Nigeria. The study was conducted to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal and gastrointestinal motility slowing effects of the ethanol leaf extract of D. guineense in Wistar rats. The anti-diarrhoeal and gastrointestinal motility slowing effects of the ethanol leaf extract of D. guineense were evaluated using castor oil-induced diarrhoeal model, charcoal meal, and anti-enteropooling tests in Wistar rats. The test groups received various doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) of the extract whereas positive controls received Loperamide (4 mg/kg) or Atropine (5 mg/kg) and negative controls received Normal Saline (10 ml/kg). The phytochemical screening as well as the acute toxicity test of the extract was also performed. The extract produced a dose-dependent significant reduction in the watery nature and frequency of fecal droppings in the castor oil-induced diarrhea. On gastrointestinal transit time and enteropooling, the extract also dose-dependently reduced the small intestinal transit of charcoal meal and intestinal fluid volume in a manner comparable to 5 mg/kg of atropine sulphate and 4 mg/kg of loperamide. The acute toxicity study on the extract revealed an oral LD50 value greater than 5000 mg/kg in mice. The phytochemical constituents detected in the extract were tannins, phenols, resin, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, and glycosides. The findings from this study showed that the ethanol leaf extract of D. guineense possesses anti-diarrhoeal properties and thus supports the traditional application of the leaf extract in the treatment of diarrhea in Nigeria.