Antidiarrhoeal Activity Of The Methanolic Extract Of The Leaves Of Paullina Pinnata Linn (Sapindaceae)

Various parts of the plant Paullinia pinnata has been used for the management of various illnesses by various tribes in Africa. This work attempts to provide the pharmacological basis for the ethno medical use of the plant in the treatment of diarrhoea. The methanolic leaf extract was screened for anti-diarrhoeal activity on whole mouse gastrointestinal tract. The Phytochemical screening of the plant and acute toxicity were also carried out.Two models were adopted for anti diarrhoea evaluation: Measure of intestinal transit time and Measure of Inhibition of castor oil induced diarrhoea.The results obtained in the intestinal transit model showed that the percentage distances travelled by the charcoal were: 83.82%±4.6, 52.75%±5.8, 33.68%±10.1, 17.31%±4.9, and 36.12%±9.5 for groups A, B, C, D and E respectively. While the results obtained in the castor oil induced diarrhoea model showed the average number and weight of stool per group over 4 hours were: 14.25±0.48 : 0.3391g, 6.50±0.86 : 0.59g, 6.75±2.175 : 0.2793g, 2.25±0.75 : 0.1834g and 7.75±0.75 : 0.2353g for groups A, B, C, D and E respectively This result shows that the extract inhibits gastrointestinal motility and its antidiarrhoeal property is dose dependent.Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of carbohydrate, reducing sugars, Saponins , anthracene derivatives, tannins and cardiac glycosides.The extract at 4g/kg produced no acute toxicity even after being monitored for 5 days. The Research work was done in the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City Nigeria.