Oyepata Simeon Joseph , Moses Aziakpono Omoirri

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria;

For correspondence:-  Oyepata Joseph   Email: oyepata.joseph@fuoye.edu.ng

Received: 24 March 2026        Accepted: 16 July 2026        Published: 31 July 2026

Citation: Joseph OS, Omoirri MA. Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of Dennettia tripetala stem bark extract as an antidiarrhoeal agent. Trop J Pharm Res 2026; 25(7):979-985 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v25i7.10

© 2026 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the antidiarrhoeal activity of ethanol stem bark extract of Dennettia tripetala (ETEDT). Methods: Antidiarrhoeal activity was evaluated using castor oil–induced (10 mL/kg orally) diarrhoea, enteropooling, and gastrointestinal transit models in mice, alongside Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) phytochemical profiling. Thirty mice, six per group, were treated orally with ETEDT (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg), loperamide (2 mg/kg), or distilled water (control) before diarrhoeal induction. One hour after treatment, diarrhoea was induced by oral administration of castor oil (10 mL/kg orally). Results: ETEDT significantly delayed onset of diarrhoea and reduced wet stool frequency and weight compared with control (p < 0.05) at 500 and 1000 mg/kg doses. The highest dose (1000 mg/kg) produced 82.20 % inhibition of diarrhoea, comparable to loperamide. The extract also significantly reduced intestinal fluid accumulation (46.34 % inhibition) and suppressed intestinal transit (84.11 % inhibition) in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05) in comparison with control. GC–MS analysis identified bioactive compounds including eugenol, caryophyllene derivatives, phytol, fatty acid esters, and phytosterols. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that ETEDT possesses significant antimotility and antisecretory effects, supporting its traditional use and highlighting its potential as a source of novel antidiarrhoeal agents.

Keywords: Antidiarrhoeal activity, Dennettia tripetala, Enteropooling, Gastrointestinal transit, GC-MS profiling

Impact Factor
Thompson Reuters (ISI): 0.6 (2023)
H-5 index (Google Scholar): 49 (2023)