Antidiarrhoeal and antioxidant properties of Curcuma alismatifolia leaves

Hydromethanol extract of Curcuma alimatifolia leaves was scientifically evaluated for its antidiarrhoeal and antioxidant properties. Antidiarrhoeal property was studied using castor oil and MgSO₄-induced diarrhoeal models and charcoal induced gastrointestinal motility test in Swiss Albino mice. At the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight, the extract displayed remarkable antidiarrhoeal activity, evidenced by a reduction in the rate of defecation as well as by retardation of intestinal transit of charcoal meal in test animals throughout the study period. In all of these experimental models the extract, at higher dose (500 mg/kg body weight), exhibited significant (p <0.05) antidiarrhoeal property compared to the control. Again, antioxidant potential of the extract was assessed using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging, total phenol and total flavonoid content determination assays. The extract displayed a dose dependent scavenging of DPPH radical and NO. Moreover, the extract was found to possess high amount of phenols and flavonoids, expressed as gallic acid and quercetin equivalents respectively. The results of the present study might indicate the usefulness of C. alismatifolia leaves in diarrhoeal disease and other disorders linked to free radical-mediated oxidative stress.