Ethnomedical value of Cissampelos pareira extract in experimentally induced diarrhoea.

The antidiarrhoeal activity of the ethanolic extract of Cissampelos pareira (Menispermaceae) roots was assessed on experimental animals. The hydroethanolic extract (25-100 mg dry extract kg(-1) body mass, p.o.) exhibited a dose dependent decrease in the total number of faecal droppings (control 65, reduced to 26-46) and 29.2-60.0% inhibition in castor oil-induced diarrhoea. Further, C. pareira produced a significant (p < 0.01) and dose dependent reduction in intestinal fluids accumulation (26.0-59.0%). The extract showed a greater inhibitory effect on the concentration of Na+ (20.0 and 34.5%) than on the concentration of K+ (6.7 and 9.4%). The extract also reduced dose dependently the gastrointestinal transit from 46.4 and 38.7%, equivalent to 53.6 and 61.3%. However, C. pareira significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation and inhibited the decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels (superoxide dismutase and catalase) on prior administration to castor oil-induced fluid accumulation. The extract of C. pareira had no effect on normal defecation at 25 mg kg(-1) in mice. However, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) inhibited defecation by 100% in the initial 2 h and the activity was reduced to 40.0 and 73.0%, respectively, in the third hour.