Evaluation of Antidiarrheal Activity of the Ethanol Extract Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit Seed

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Leucaena leucocephala belongs to the Leguminosae/Fabaceae family. L. leucocephala seeds contain alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins which according to the previous research have antidiarrhea activity.
 AIM: This study was investigate the antidiarrheal activity of the ethanol extracts of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit seeds induced by oleum ricini and intestinal transit methods for rats.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: L. leucocephala seeds were extracted by maceration with 80% ethanol. Evaluation of antidiarrheal extract activity was performed by induction of oleum ricini and intestinal transit methods. The extract at dose doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW was orally administered to the animals 1 h after induction by oleum ricini. Then diarrhea time, frequency, consistency, stool weight, and duration of diarrhea were observed every 30 min for 6 h. In determining the intestinal transit method, a percentage of the distance of the Chinese ink determined. This study was used positive control as Loperamide (1 mg/kg BW) and 0.5% Na-CMC as a negative control.
 RESULT: In diarrhea induced by castor oil, L. leucocephala seed extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg bw has been shown to significantly delay the onset of diarrhea, reduce diarrhea frequency, stool weight and duration of diarrhea compared with Na CMC as a negative control (p < 0.05). The extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg bw did not differ significantly from loperamide as positive control (p > 0.05). In this study, L. leucocephala extract reduced the distance traveled by Chinese ink in the intestine but only at a dose of 400 mg/kg bw which has a comparable activity with loperamide significantly . The antidiarrheal activity of extract showed at a dose dependent manner.
 CONCLUSION: The ethanol extract of L. leucocephala seeds has antidiarrheal activity which supports its use in folk medicines.