ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the phytochemical constituents and to evaluate the anti diarrheal effect of the ethanolic stem bark extract of Acacia sieberiana in albino rats. The rats were grouped into five different groups; two groups were treated with water and loperamide (a standard drug) which serve as negative and positive control respectively. The three other groups tagged test groups were orally administered with the extract at different concentrations of (200,400, and 600mg/kg), respectively. The study was carried out on castor oil induced diarrhea and gastro intestinal transit at the stated doses (concentrations) above. The result of the phytochemical screening showed the presence of tannin, saponins, alkaloids and glycosides. The extract showed no significant inhibitory effect in the groups given 200mg/Kg and 400mg/Kg when compared to the negative control, while a significant inhibitory effect was observed in the group given the highest concentration (600mg/Kg) (P