EVALUATION OF ANTI-DIARRHOEAL ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC RHIZOME EXTRACT OF PICRORRHIZA KURROA ROYLE EX. BENTH.

Abstract

Picrorrhiza kurroa (Scrophulariaceae) is a small perennial herb growing in the hilly parts of the north-Western Himalayas region in India and Nepal. The objective of the present study was to evaluate and compare anti-diarrhoeal activity of Picrorrhiza kurroa royle ex. Benth  on magnesium su;phate induced enteropooling and gastro intestinal motility test using charcoal meal methods. The results suggested that there was a significant reduction in the peristaltic movemets in charcoal meal test and reduction in the intestinal fluid secretions in magnesium sulphate induced enteropooling method indicating its anti-diarrhoeal activity. Two doses of the test extract i.e. 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg were used to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal activity. Atropine sulphate was used as the standard in the gastro intestinal motility test to compare the test results. Loperamide was used as the standard drug in magnesium sulfate induced enteropooling method to compare the test results. The study concluded that the methanolic rhizome extract of Picrorrhiza kurroa showed significant Anti-diarrhoeal action.

 

KEY WORDS: Picrorrhiza kurroa, Anti-diarrhoeal action, Loperamide, magnesium sulfate induced enteropooling, gastro intestinal motility test, Atropine sulfate