Evaluation of Anacardium Occidentale Methanol Leaf Extracts in Experimental Diarrhoea of Mice

Oral administration of various doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) of methanol extracts of the leaves of Anacardium occidentale produced significant antidiarrhoeal activities in mice by reducing the number and frequency of defecation of wet faeces, reduction in intestinal weight and intraluminal fluid volume as well as reducing the intestinal transit in charcoal meal test when compared to diphenoxylate Hcl (5mg/kg, p.o.) control in a dose dependent manner. The highest dose (400 mg/kg) produced better antidiarrhoeal activity than the reference drug, diphenoxylate. Findings from the study reveal that Anacardium occidentale leaf extracts possess antidiarrhoeal principles validating its traditional use in the management of diarrhoea.Keywords: Anacardium occidentale, Antidiarrhoeal activity, Intestinal transit, castor oil induced diarrhoea, castor oil-induced enteropoolin