Laxative effect of the crude methanolic extract of Polyalthia suberosa (Roxb.) Thwaites in mice

Abstract

Polyalthia suberosa (Roxb.) Thwaites is traditionally used as abortifacient, laxative, febrifuge, analgesic,anti-HIV as well as filler’s of tooth cavities. The present study was directed to evaluate laxative activity of themethanolic extract of Polyalthia suberosa (Roxb.) Thwaites leaves (PSM). A variety of tests including laxative activitytest, laxative activity on loperamide-induced constipation in mice and gastrointestinal motility test in mice wereutilised to evaluate the laxative activity of PSM. PSM at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses, expressed laxative activity in Swissalbino mice. Laxative effect of PSM evaluated by laxative activity test exposes that PSM possesses laxative activity atboth doses. PSM also showed effectiveness against loperamide induced constipation. In addition, this extractproduced significant intestinal transit (*P˂0.05 vs. control) at both doses. The results of this study provide support forthe traditional use of Polyalthia suberosa (Roxb.) Thwaites leaves as a laxative.