Experimental evaluation of Myracrodruon urundeuva bark extract for antidiarrhoeal activity

The bark of M. urundeuva (Anacardiaceae) used in popular medicine as an ant idiarrhoeal agent has been investigated for its effects on castor oil-induc ed diarrhoea and on intestinal motility, In rats, the ethanol extract of st em bark significantly inhibited the castor oil-induced diarrhoea, small int estinal transit and accumulation of fluid volume at an oral dose of 400 mg/ kg, Furthermore, the plant extract caused marked inhibition of the contract ile responses evoked by acetylcholine and histamine on guinea-pig ileum in vitro. These results point to a possible antidiarrhoeic effect of M. urunde uva bark extract since inhibition of intestinal motility and secretion cam greatly control clinical diarrhoea. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.