Preliminary phytochemical screening and antidiarrhoeal activity of derris trifoliata lour

The present study was designed to investigate the antidiarrhoeal potential of 80% ethanol extract of aerial parts of Derris trrifoliata (DT) on castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. Phytochemical screening of the plant extracts for their active constituents was also carried out using standard procedures. Oral administration of ethanol extract of DT (500 and 1000 mg/kg) significantly, and dose-dependently delayed the onset of diarrhoea induced by castor oil and also significantly reduced the number of diarrhoeal episodes and the number of animals exhibiting diarrhoea. The results were comparable to those of standard antimotility drug, hyoscine butylbromide (50 mg/kg). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroid, flavonoid, reducing sugar, tannin, gum and saponin as major constituents. The results point out the presence of some active principles in DT extract possessing anti-diarrhoeal effect and substantiate the use of this herbal remedy as a non-specific treatment for diarrhoea in folk medicine