Prashant B. Shamkuwar, Sadhana R. Shahi, Deepak P. Pawar
Aegle marmelos L. Corr. (Rutaceae) is an active ingredient of most of the ayurvedic antidiarrhoeal formulations. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of Aegle marmelos in polyherbal antidiarrhoeal formulation by comparing its antidiarrhoeal and antispasmodic effect with Mebarid; an antidiarrhoeal Ayurvedic formulation. An aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos (AAM) was tested for its antidiarrhoeal and antispasmodic activities. Antidiarrhoeal effect of AAM was evaluated in castor oil induced diarrhea and intestinal secretion in mice and antispasmodic effect was evaluated by charcoal meal test in mice at a dose of 25, 50, 100 mg/kg. Antidiarrhoeal and antispasmodic effect of Mebarid was evaluated at the dose of 10 ml/kg. The % inhibition of diarrhoea was 31.81 %, 43.93 %, 54.54 % and 92.45 % for AAM 25, 50, 100 mg/kg (po) and Mebarid 10 ml/kg dose (po) respectively. The % inhibition of intestinal secretion was 29.30 %, 34.05 %, 46.73 %% and 81.58 % for AAM 25, 50, 100 mg/kg (po) and Mebarid 10 ml/kg dose (po) respectively. AAM 25, 50, 100 mg/kg (po) and Mebarid 10 ml/kg dose (po) produced 10.95 %, 21.65 %, 29.19 % and 47.15 % inhibition of intestinal transit respectively. These results suggest that AAM is an active ingredient of Mebarid in treating diarrhea by its antisecretory and antimotility effect.
