In-vivo evaluation of anti-diarrhoeal and anti-emetic activity of piper longum fruits in rats and chicks

Abstract

Diarrhea is a disease that causes approximately 5-8 million deaths per year around the world. Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to diarrhea, especially in developing countries. Emesis or vomiting condition defined as mainly go through of contents itself the upper gastro intestinal tract there by greatly causing irritation overstimulation and swell occur. The present study investigates the antidiarrheal and antiemetic properties of the methanolic fruit extract of Piper longum (Indian long pepper), a plant traditionally used for gastrointestinal disorders. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, and volatile oils. Acute toxicity studies established the safety of the extract up to 1600 mg/kg in mice. The antidiarrheal activity was assessed in Wistar rats using castor oil-induced diarrhea and loperamide-induced constipation models. Results demonstrated that Piper longum extract at 300 mg/kg significantly reduced fecal output and water content, indicating potent antidiarrheal action comparable to the standard drug loperamide. Antiemetic activity was evaluated using a chick emetic model induced by copper sulfate. The extract showed significant inhibition of retching episodes at both 75 and 150 mg/kg doses, with efficacy comparable to chlorpromazine, a standard antiemetic. The methanolic extract demonstrated significant laxative, antidiarrheal, and antiemetic activities, likely due to the presence of diverse phytochemicals. These findings suggest that Piper longum could be a potential therapeutic agent for managing diarrhea, constipation, and emesis, warranting further investigation into its active constituents and mechanisms of action.