Determination of Pathophysiological Anti-Diarrhoeal Activity of the Aqueous Stem Bark Extract of Ficus platyphylla

This study was motivated by the report of a survey of herbal remedies used by Fulani herdsmen in the management of cow diarrhoea in Plateau State, Nigeria. The report identified F. platyphylla stem bark amongst major herbs. Activity of aqueous stem extract of F. platyphylla against diarrhoea caused by physiological changes and by pathological infections was herein determined. Thirty albino rats were fasted for 18 hours. They were grouped into six and induced with diarrhoea using castor oil. The first two groups received distilled water (1 ml) and loperamide (5 mg/kg), while other groups were administered plant extract 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight respectively. The severity of diarrhoea was assessed hourly for 4 hrs. Gastrointestinal motility experiment was carried out using atropine sulphate (5 mg/kg). In vitro anti-diarrhoeal test was carried out against E. coli clinical and laboratory isolates versus antibiotics. The extract inhibited defecation moderately, and regulated frequency of wet stool better than loperamide, the lowest dose (50 mg/kg b. w.) competed favourably with the loperamide. This dose produced the most remarkable activity considering the latent period, total stool frequency, purging indices and percentage inhibition of defecation. The dose showed remarkable activity in the propulsion of charcoal meal through gastrointestinal tract as displayed in the inhibition of diarrhoea. The results of in vitro anti-diarrhoeal test against E. coli showed that the plant extract was inactive on the microorganism. The results from the present study validated the anti-diarrhoeal potential of F. platyphylla via its physiological action.