Prophylactic Anti-diarrhoea Property of Chrysobalanus icaco Fruit Methanol Extract in Swiss Mice

Diarrhoea is one of the major health issues in the developing world due to poor water and sanitation. The methanol extract of the fruit of Chrysobalanus icaco (Coco plum) was evaluated for the prophylactic anti-diarrhoeal activity against castor oil-induced diarrhoea in Swiss mice. Diarrhoea was induced in the mice experimentally by castor oil administration, and the anti-diarrhoeal activity of various doses of the fruit extract (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) was assessed against a control group and a reference group treated with loperamide (3 mg/kg). The results showed that the extract decreased the severity of diarrhoea in a dose-dependent manner, with the highest dose (100 mg/kg) showing 58.6% inhibition of diarrhoeal stools compared to the control group. The extract also delayed the onset of diarrhoea and reduced total stool weight. A charcoal meal gastrointestinal motility test demonstrated that the extract significantly delayed intestinal transit, substantiating its ability to modulate gut motility. The anti-diarrhoeal activity observed could be due to the presence of phytochemicals such as flavonoids, tannins, and anthocyanins. These findings provide a scientific rationale for the folkloric use of Chrysobalanus icaco in the treatment of diarrhoeal conditions and indicate its prospects as a plant-derived, natural alternative to synthetic anti-diarrhoeal medications.