Antidiarrhoeal and Antiulcer Activities of Mammea Africana

The stembark of Mammea africana is used traditionally for the treatment of stomach pains. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of ethanolic stembark extract of Mammea africana on experimentally induced diarrhoea and ulcer. The extract ( 30 – 90mg/kg) was administered orally in rats 30 minutes to one hour before the induction of diarrhoeal and ulcer using different experimental models. Castor oil (2ml) was used to induce diarrhoea, while indomethacin (60mg/kg) and ethanol (2.5ml/kg) were used to induce ulcers in rats. Frequency of defecation, inhibition of intestinal propulsion and fluid accumulation were measured in the case of diarrhoea and ulcer index were calculated to examine ulcer preventive ratio of the extract.The extract (30 – 90mg/kg) significantly inhibited castor oil induced diarrhoea, small intestine transit time and castor oil induced fluid accumulation as well as indomethacin and ethanol induced ulcer models. The effect of the extract in these models was uncomparable to the various standard drugs used.These findings justify the use of this stembark traditionally in the treatment of stomach pains and disorders.