Objective: To evaluate the antipyretic, antidiarrhoeal, hypoglycaemic and hepatoprotective effects of the ethyl acetate extract of
Acacia catechu
in experimental animal models.
Materials and Methods: Ethyl acetate extract of
Acacia catechu was evaluated for antipyretic activity in yeast induced pyrexia and for antidiarrhoeal activity in castor oil induced diarrhoea in albino rats. Hypoglycaemic activity was studied in both normal and alloxan (120 mg/kg, s.c.) induced diabetic albino rats. The hepatoprotective potential of
Acacia catechu was evaluated by CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats.
Results: Single administration of the ethyl acetate extract of
Acacia catechu at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o. showed significant antipyretic activity (
P < 0.01) in albino rats.
Acacia catechu at a dose of 250 mg/kg, p.o., (single dose) has been found to possess highly significant antidiarrhoeal property (
P < 0.001) in respect of latent period of onset of diarrhoea, average number of stool passed and purging index. Significant reduction of blood glucose level was observed in nondiabetic albino rats following single dose treatment with the test drug at a dose of 500 mg/kg, p.o. (
P < 0.01). Significant reduction of blood glucose level was also evident in diabetic rats at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg (
P < 0.001). Highly significant hepatoprotective activity was also observed when the extract of
Acacia catechu (250 mg/kg) was administered prophylactically for seven days (
P < 0.001).
Conclusion : The present study shows that ethyl acetate extract of
Acacia catechu (cutch/katha) has significant antipyretic, antidiarrhoeal, hypoglycaemic and hepatoprotective properties.
