Possible Anti-diarrhoeal Effect of the Date Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera L) Spathe Aqueous Extract in Rats

(Abdullah bin Yousef Taher)

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Abstract

The date palm (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) is known to be one of the oldest cultivated tree in the world. Date palm spathe aqueous extract has claimed to have anti-spasmodic activity. Castor oil-induced diarrhoea, enteropooling and gastrointestinal transit test were elucidated in rats. The results show that aqueous extract significantly reduced both castor-oil induced intestinal transit and frequency of diarrhoea effects. However, the extract did not affect castor oil induced intestinal fluid accumulation. Further studies are needed in regard to isolation of the effective components of these extracts and clarification of its pharmacological mechanisms in the future.
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