Evaluation of Punica granatum Peels Extracts and its Phenolic, Alkaloid and Terpenoid Constituents Against Chemically Induced Diarrhoea in Rats

The present study was carried out to investigate the antidiarrhoeal activity of aqueous extract of peel of Punica granatum fruit and crude phenols, alkaloids, terpenoid extract in vivo by inducing diarrhoea in rats by oral administration of castor oil, enteropooling and small intestinal transit models in rats. The weight and volume of intestinal fluid induced by castor oil were studied by enteropooling method. Standard drug diphenoxylate (5 mg/kg, orally) was significantly reduced fecal output and frequency of droppings whereas crude phenols, alkaloids and aqueous extract, (at the doses of 20, 40 and 400 mg/kg orally respectively) significantly (P<0.001) reduced the castor oil induced frequency and consistency of diarrhoea and enteropooling. The gastrointestinal transit rate was expressed as the percentage of the longest distance travelled by the charcoal by the total length of the small intestine. Crude phenols, alkaloids and aqueous extract at the doses of 20, 40 and 400 mg/kg significantly inhibited (P<0.001) the castor oil induced charcoal meal transit. The crude phenols, alkaloids and aqueous extract of Punica granatum peel showed marked reduction in the number of diarrhoea stools and the reduction in the weight and volume of the intestinal contents, as well as a higher reduction in intestinal transit. Results obtained to establish the efficacy and substantiate the folklore claim as anti-diarrhoeal agent. Further studies are needed to understand the complete mechanism of antidiarrhoeal action of Punica ranatum.