Evaluation of anti-diarrhoeal activity of Curcuma zedoaria rhizome

Curcuma zedoaria (family: Zingiberaceae) is broadly used as a folk medicine in dyspepsia, cough, dermatosis, inflammations, diarrhoea and other diseases. In the present study, ethanol extracts of Curcuma zedoaria rhizomes was evaluated for phytochemical screening and antidiarrhoeal activity. The results showed that Curcuma zedoaria extract dose-dependently reduced the severity & frequency of diarrhoea in mice compared with the standard antimotility drug loperamide. Preliminary phytochemical screening of ethanol extract showed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, terpinoids, carbohydrates and steroids as major constituents, some of which possess antidiarrhoeal activity and justify the traditional use of the plant extract in the treatment of diarrhea.