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.