Antidiarrheal Activity-Guided Fractionation of Plumbago Zeylanica

Abstract

Diarrheal diseases pose a significant global health challenge, particularly in developing countries, emphasizing the urgent need for effective interventions. This study investigated the antidiarrheal properties of Plumbago zeylanica using bioactivity-guided fractionation. A dark brown ethanolic extract (11.45% w/w yield) was obtained from P. zeylanica roots via Soxhlet extraction. Chromatographic separation yielded 23 fractions, which were combined based on TLC analysis into four main fractions (F1-F4) with yields of 28.13%, 42.55%, 2.81%, and 22.37%, respectively. Fraction F3 exhibited an Rf value of 0.86. In a castor oil-induced diarrhea model in Wistar rats, the crude extract showed dose-dependent efficacy, with both 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses significantly reducing diarrhea frequency and severity. Among the fractions, F3 (2 mg/kg) displayed the most potent antidiarrheal activity, evidenced by the lowest fecal counts (1.26 ± 0.20), wet feces (0.45 ± 0.00), and fecal weight (20.6 ± 20.60 mg). A charcoal-induced diarrhea model further confirmed the antidiarrheal effects of the crude extract at both 200 mg/kg (43.68 ± 1.27 cm) and 400 mg/kg (34.89 ± 1.82 cm) doses, significantly reducing charcoal movement (P<0.01). Remarkably, F3 (2 mg/kg) demonstrated the most substantial reduction in charcoal movement (29.34 ± 1.68 cm) at a considerably lower dose. These results highlight the potential of P. zeylanica and its fractions, especially F3, as promising sources for developing natural antidiarrheal agents.