Plants have been used since time immemorial to treat a variety of diseases. The present study was conducted to comparatively evaluate the antidiarrheal efficacy of plants traditionally used to treat diarrhea viz. semi ripe fruit of Aegle marmelos, rhizome

of Curcuma longa, leaves of Dalbergia sissoo, bark of Mangifera indica, leaves of Psidium guajava and fruit rind of Punica granatum. Methanolic plant extracts were tested for their antidiarrheal efficacy in castor oil induced diarrhoea in rats at three different doses (@ 100, 200 and 400 mg/Kg body weight). Of the six extracts tested, Aegle marmelos fruit extract was found to be the most effective, followed by Dalbergia sissoo leaf extract; both resulted in dose dependent inhibition of diarrhea in rats. A. marmelos fruit extract was further evaluated for its therapeutic potential in acute undifferentiated diarrhea of calves @ 400 mg/Kg/Day, orally in two divided doses. Efficacy of the methanolic extract of Aegle marmelos was found comparable to that of oral pefloxacin given to a group of calves @ 10 mg/Kg body weight, orally, once a day. In conclusion, Aegle marmelos can effectively be used as a non-specific antidiarrheal in acute diarrhea of cattle calves.

Highlights

• Comparative evaluation of antidiarrheal efficacy of methanolic extracts of traditionally used plants in in rats and neonatal dairy calves.
• Aegle marmelos can effectively be used as a non-specific antidiarrheal in acute undifferentiated diarrhea of cattle calves.