ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to establish the antidiarrhoeal and antioxidant properties of the ethanol leaf extract of Pseudocedrela kotschyi in wistar albino rats. The effect of the ethanol extract on castor oil induced diarrhoea, motility of the GIT using the charcoal plug method and castor oil induced intestinal fluid accumulation in rats were evaluated. The antioxidant potential of the leaf extract was investigated by measuring its capability for scavenging 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The phytochemical constituents and the oral acute toxicity of ethanol leaf extract were also determined in rats. Generally, the ethanol leaf extract at all doses used, was found to posses significant (P<0.05) concentration dependent antidiarrhoeal, antimotility and antienteropooling activity. The leaf extract also exhibited strong antioxidant activity. The phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannin, cardiac glycosides, steroids, flavoniods and saponins. The LD50 in rats was above 5000 mg/kg. The ethanol leaf extract of Pseudocedrela kotschyi has demonstrated strong antidiarrhoeal, antimotility, antienteropooling and antioxidant activities, supporting previous claims of its traditional use in the treatment of different diseases.