MODULATORY ANTI- DIARRHEAL EFFECTS OF ASCORBIC ACID IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

Ascorbic acid (AA) has been reported for the management of diarrhea. The anti-diarrheal potential and modulatory activities of AA on some commonly used anti-diarrheal drugs were investigated. For this purpose, the activities of AA on castor oil-induced diarrhea in Swiss mice were examined. As standard anti-diarrheal agents, we used prazosin, propranolol, loperamide, and nifedipine with or without AA. The results revealed that AA at 25 mg/kg (i.p.) and all other standard drugs exhibited significant (p < 0.05) diarrheal attenuating activities in mice. However, the impact was more pronounced in the loperamide and propranolol groups. AA administrated with prazosin and propranolol had a higher rate of latent periods and a lower rate of diarrheic secretion during the study period (4 h)…