Antidiarrheal and Antimicrobial Activities of Bark and Leaf Extracts of Xylocarpus granatum Koenig

Abstract

Objective: To assess the antidiarrheal and antimicrobial activities of ethanolic extracts prepared from bark and leaf of Xylocarpus granatum. Materials and methods: The effect of ethanolic extracts of bark and leaf of Xylocarpus granatum was studied at doses of 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight in 5% gum acacia against castor oil induced diarrhea in rats. The antimicrobial activity of crude ethanolic extracts of bark and leaf of Xylocarpus granatum was studied at concentrations of 50 μl of 10 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml and 300 mg/ml of extracts dissolved in 50% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution in water against three species of Gram positive bacteria, two species each of Gram negative bacteria, fungi and yeast by agar cup-plate diffusion method. Results: The ethanolic extracts of bark and leaf showed antidiarrheal activity in castor oil induced diarrheal rats in a dose-dependent manner. The extracts showed antimicrobial activity against some of the selected species of microorganisms. Conclusion: The ethanolic extracts of bark and leaf of Xylocarpus granatum showed potential antidiarrheal activity against castor oil induced diarrhea in rats in a dose-dependent manner. The bark extract showed antibacterial activity (Gram positive) and antiyeast activity.