The red sap obtained by slashing the bark of Croton urucurana Baill. (Eupho
rbiaceae), also known as dragon's blood, was screened for a possible antidi
arrhoeal activity on castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats, cholera toxin-in
duced intestinal secretion in mice and on small intestinal transit in mice.
Dragon's blood at an oral dose of 600 mg/kg caused in marked inhibition of
the diarrhoeal response following castor oil administration as well as the
intestinal fluid accumulation promoted by cholera toxin, At a similar dose
the red sap significantly inhibited the small intestinal transit which was
, however, found to be independent of the opioid mechanism. These results s
uggest a potential usefulness of the red sap from Croton urucurana Baill, i
n the control of secretory diarrhoea associated pathologies, Copyright (C)
2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.