Available online www.jocpr.com Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2012, 4(1):460-464 Research Article ISSN : 0975-7384 CODEN(USA) : JCPRC5 460 Antidiarrhoeal activity of an ayurvedic formulation: Enterocin Prashant B. Shamkuwar* 1 , Sadhana R. Shahi 2 , Deepak P. Pawar 1 1 Government College of Pharmacy, Thiba Palace, Ratnagiri(India) 2 Government College of Pharmacy, Vedant Road, Aurangabad(India) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT An ayurvedic formulation, Enterocin was tested for its antidiarrhoeal, antimotility and antisecretory activities. Antidiarrhoeal effect of Enterocin was evaluated in castor oil and magnesium sulphate induced diarrhoea, intestinal transit and intestinal secretion in mice at a dose of 2.5, 5, 10 ml/kg. Enterocin treated mice, significantly reduced the induction time of diarrhoea, weight of stools and number of stools in the diarrhoea induced by castor oil and magnesium sulphate. It has also produced antimotility and antisecretory activity in castor oil induced intestinal transit and intraluminal fluid accumulation in mice. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of carbohydrates, steroids, triterpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins as major constituents. These results suggest that Enterocin possesses antidiarrhoeal effect may be due to its antimotility and antisecretory effect. Antimotility and antisecretory effect of Enterocin may be due to the presence of different phytochemicals. Key words: Enterocin, diarrhoea, intestinal transit, intestinal secretion. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Diarrhoea includes increase in volume or fluidity of stools, change in consistency and increase frequency of defecation [1]. Diarrhoea involves both an increase in the motility of the gastrointestinal tract, along with increased secretion, and a decrease in the absorption of fluid and thus a loss of electrolytes and water [2]. The rapid movement of faeces through the intestine results in abnormally frequent and watery stools [3, 4]. Diarrhoea which could be infectious or non-infectious, is one of the principal cause of death, particularly in the malnourished infants [5]. Medicinal herbs constitute an indispensable component of the traditional medicine practiced world wide due to the economical viability, accessibility and ancestral experience. Despite the availability of a vast spectrum of approaches for diarrhoeal management, a vast majority of the people of the developing countries rely on herbal drugs for the management of diarrhoea [6]. World Health Organization has encouraged studies for the treatment and prevention of diarrhoeal diseases depending on traditional medical practices [7, 8] As Enterocin is widely used Ayurvedic antidiarrhoeal pediatric syrup, present study was conducted to investigate its antidiarrhoeal, antimotility and antisecretory effect as well as Phytochemical constituents. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION Drugs i) Enterocin – Ayurlab Herbals (P) Ltd., ii) Castor oil (refined pure) – Paras Chemical Industries, iii) Loperamide hydrochloride – Cipla Pharmaceuticals Ltd., iv) Chlorpromazine hydrochloride – Rhone Poulene (India) Ltd., v) Activated Charcoal – E. Merck, vi) Magnesium sulphate – Merck, vii) Atropine sulphate – Sigma chemicals Ltd.