PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND EVALUATION OF ANTI-DIARRHOEAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LEAVES OF CLERODENDRUM INFORTUNATUM

Objective: To determine preliminary phytochemical Screening and evaluation of Antidiarrheal activity of ethanolic extract of Leaves Clerodendrum infortunatum.Methods: The ethanolic extract of leaves of Clerodendrum infortunatum was prepared and analyzed for phytochemical constituents using standard method and evaluate scientifically the anti-diarrheal effect using leaves of Clerodendrum infortunatum by castor oil-inducing method. Animals were divided into four groups. Group-I was treated with distilled water 2 ml/kg body weight. Group-II was treated with loperamide 1 mg/kg body weight, Group-III and Group-IV were treated with ethanolic extract of leaves Clerodendrum infortunatum 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively.Results: Various phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of sterols, terpenoids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, tannins, glycoside, saponins, proteins and amino acids. The ethanolic extract of Clerodendrum infortunatum leaves given by oral route to mice at doses of 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg significantly showed antidiarrheal activity against castor oil induced diarrhea as compared with control group and standard.Conclusion: The present study concluded that ethanolic extract of leaves of Clerodendrum infortunatum contain the high presence of phytochemical components and it showed that the leaves of Clerodendrum infortunatum having significant antidiarrheal activity. All doses of the plant extracts showed a significant delay in castor oil-induced diarrhea and this justifies the use of this plant as a herbal remedy against diarrhea.Â