levels of castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats treated with leaf extract of corchorus olitorius linn and aerial part extract of scoporia dulcis linn

This study reports the phytochemical constituents and anti-diarrhoeal potentials of leaf extracts of corchorus olitorius linn. (malvaceae) and that of aerial part of scoporia dulcis linn. (lantaginaceae) in rats. samples were collected in december, 2016 from nnewi-ichi, nnewi, anambra state and mandara-abdu, biu- borno state, nigeria, respectively. the phytochemical screening of the c. olitorius and the aerial part of s. dulcis extracts were conducted using standard methods; the results revealed the presence of cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, free and combined reducing sugar and tannins. saponins was only found in s. dulcis. the diarrhoea was induced in rats by castor oil-induced method. the rats were grouped into 3 rats of 5 groups for each extract; groups i and ii served as negative and positive control, while groups iii, iv and v as treatment groups. the results showed a non-dose dependent but significant (p<0.05) effects with the lowest mean number of defecations at 6.67±1.70 and 10.33±0.94; and highest protections of 75.00% and 61.27% respectively at the same dose of 300 mg/kg bd. wt. for c. olitorius and s. dulcis. comparatively, c. olitorius showed significantly (p<0.05) low severity of diarrhoea relative to s. dulcis. thus, it showed reduction in the faecal output and protection of the rats from diarrhoea induced by castor oil. these observed results could explain their use as anti-diarrhoeal agents in african traditional medicine especially in nigeria where the plants are used.