Fitoterapia 75 (2004) 39–44 0367-326X/04/$ - see front matter  2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2003.08.015 Antidiarrhoeal activity of Rhus javanica ripen fruit extract in albino mice Vareishang Tangpu, Arun K. Yadav* Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793 022, India Received 22 December 2002; accepted in revised form 5 August 2003 Abstract The antidiarrhoeal effects of the methanolic extract of Rhus javanica ripen fruits (MERJ) were investigated by employing four experimental models of diarrhoea in Swiss albino mice. MERJ treated mice, showed significant reduction in the faecal output and protected them from castor oil-induced diarrhoea. The extract also reduced the intestinal fluid secretion induced by MgSO and gastrointestinal motility after charcoal meal administration in the 4 albino mice. No mortality and visible signs of general weakness was observed in the mice following the test extract administration up to 2000 mgykg dose.  2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Rhus javanica; Antidiarrhoeal activity 1. Introduction In order to combat the problems of diarrhoea globally, the World Health Organisation in its Diarrhoeal Disease Control programme has given a special emphasis on the use of traditional folklore medicines in the control and management of diarrhoea w1x. Rhus javanica is a small tree, which is abundant in the hilly areas of Manipur, north-east India. The ripen fruits of this plant have a long history of traditional medicine use among the traditional healers of Naga tribal community in Manipur, to treat dysentery and diarrhoea as well as the other gastrointestinal disorders. Barring a few studies related to testing of its efficacy against herpes *Corresponding author. E-mail address: akynehu@hotmail.com (A.K. Yadav).