EVALUATION OF ANTI-DIARRHOEAL POTENTIAL OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF OCIMUM SANCTUM LINN. IN EXPETIMENTAL RATS

Diarrhoea is a condition that involves frequent passing of loose or watery stools. According to the WHO, approximately 3.5million deaths each year are attributable to diarrhoea. Medicinal plants have been used as traditional remedy for diarrhoea for years long and there is renewed interest from the discovery of novel compounds from plants to flight against diarrhoea. WHO also encourages studies on diarrhoea which include research on traditional herbs. The present study was designed to investigate antidiarrhoeal potential of leaf extracts of Ocimum sanctum (Lamiaceae. The present study is aimed to evaluate the leaf extracts of Ocimum sanctum (Lamiaceae) for acclaimed anti-diarrhoeal activity using albino rats. Anti-diarrhoeal activity of Ocimum sanctum was evaluated by castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats. Loperamide was used as a standard drug. The study revealed that, the alcoholic extract and aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum possessed significant antidiarrhoeal activity in castor oil-induced diarrhoea, compared to the control group. Ocimum sanctum showed significant anti-diarrhoeal activity as compared to loperamide and can be recommended for further studies