Antidiarrheal activity and Phytochemical profile of the ethanolic leaf extract of Leonotis nepetifolia (Lion's ear) in Wistar albino rats

Article · January 2013 DOI: 10.5455/jice.20130530123855 James G Ndukui at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Godfrey Kateregga Larry Fred Sembajwe at Makerere University John Kateregga Abstract Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Leonotis nepetifolia in wistar albino rats. Methods: This study was done in February 2013. The ethanolic leaf extract of L. nepetifolia was evaluated for its antidiarrheal activity. A total of sixty rats were used in the study. At first, thirty rats in five groups of six animals were orally dosed with the extract at dose rates of 225mg/kg, 450mg/kg, 900mg/kg body weight respectively. Loperamide was used as positive control while normal saline was the negative control. Castor oil was used to induce diarrhea and wet fecal counts were determined at hourly intervals. Then, 30 rats were divided into five equal groups and groups 1-3 were orally dosed with the extract at dose rates of 225mg/kg, 450mg/kg, 900mg/kg body weight respectively. All animals in the positive control group received Atropine sulphate intraperitoneally while those in the negative control group received normal saline orally. Castor oil was used to induce diarrhea in all animals. A charcoal meal was orally administered after 30min. All animals were sacrificed later on and the distance covered by charcoal meal in the intestine was measured. Results: The antidiarrheal effect of ethanolic leaf extract of L. nepetifolia revealed a decrease in transit distances covered by the charcoal meal at all doses of the extract which were statistically significant (p<0.05) when compared with both positive and negative controls. Conclusion: The ethanolic leaf extract of Leonotis nepetifolia has significant antidiarrheal activity.