Evaluation of Antidiarrhoeal Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Ageratum Conyzoides Linn

The leaves of Ageratum conyzoides are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diarrhoea. Thus the hydroalcoholic extract of leaves Ageratum conyzoides (Asteraceae) was investigated for its antidiarrhoeal property to substantiate folkloric claim. The hydroalcoholic extract of Ageratum conyzoides, at graded dose (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) was investigated for antidiarrhoeal activity in castor oil and magnesium sulphate induced diarrhoea. Results were comparable to that of standard drug loperamide (3 mg/kg body weight). A single oral dose of Ageratum conyzoides extract of 500 mg/kg body weight produced a significant decrease in the severity of diarrhoea. To understand the mechanism of its antidiarrhoeal activity, its effect was further evaluated on intestinal transit and castor oil induced intestinal fluid accumulation (enteropooling). Extract produced profound decrease in intestinal transit (39.66-58.17%) and significantly inhibited castor oil induced enter pooling comparable to that of intraperitonial injection of standard drug atropine sulphate. The results showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of Ageratum conyzoides have a significant antidiarrhoeal activity and supports its traditional uses in herbal medicine.