RESUMO
The ethnomedicinal uses of Musanga cecropioides R. Apud Tedlie (Cecropiaceae) as a hypotensive agent have been scientifically investigated and reported. This work examines its effect on various models of diarrhea based on the ethnomedicinal use of the plant for this indication. The stem bark of the plant, used locally by soaking in gin (alcoholic), was treated with absolute ethanol and the extract screened for antidiarrheal activity using the castor oil-induced diarrhea and small intestinal motility models in mice. Its effects on the isolated rat ileum were also investigated. In the castor oil-induced diarrhea, the extract at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg significantly (P < 0.05 at all doses) showed dose-related antidiarrheal effects as indicated by reduction in the number and weight of fecal material produced. The extract at all doses used also significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001 at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg doses, respectively) decreased the intestinal motility of the treated mice as compared to controls and inhibited acetylcholine-induced contractions (P < 0.0001). In the isolated rat ileum the extract at 5 and 10 mg/mL, remarkably inhibited acetylcholine induced contractions, indicating a probable antimuscarinic effect of the extract. The results obtained confirmed that the stem bark of M cecropioides has antidiarrheal activity as used in folkloric medicine.