Abstract

ANTIDIARRHEAL EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT FRACTIONS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAVES EXTRACT

Shalaby M. A.*, Atta A. H., Soad M. Nasr and Abduljalil Hamood Almaweri

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to detect bioactive chemical constituents of Moringa oleifera leaves methanol extract and to evaluate its antidiarrheal activity and some fractions. Chemical tests for the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, sterol, triterpenes and flavonoids were carried out using standard analytical procedures. Five fractions namely n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous were prepared from the methanol extract. The antidiarrheal activity was performed using both castor oil-induced diarrhea in rats and charcoal meal test in mice. The phytochemical screening of Moringa oleifera leaves methanol extract revealed presence of large concentrations of flavonoids, glycosides, tannins and saponins and low concentrations of alkaloids. Moringa oleifera leaves methanol extract induced intestinal relaxation of isolated rabbits duodenum. The methanol extract and three fractions: n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate induced a significant antidiarrheal effect. In conclusion, Moringa oleifera leaves methanol extract contain several bioactive chemical constituents, mainly flavonoids, glycosides, tannins and saponins. Moringa oleifera leaves methanol extract and three fractions produce a potent antidiarrheal effect, the finding that affirms its traditional use in folk medicine for the treatment of diarrhea.

Keywords: *Moringa oleifera leaves, *Phytochemical screening, *Antidiarrheal effect.