THE EFFECT OF GUAVA LEAVES (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA LINNE) ON THE GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY OF WHITE ALBINO MICE

The study was conducted to determine the effect of guava on gastrointestinal motility utilizing the % distance traveled by the activated charcoal. Fifteen healthy white albino mice were used as test animals, five mice for each drug used. The leaves were gathered and crude extract was obtained. Charcoal tracing method was utilized to determine the % distance traveled by the activated charcoal after administration of the drugs (NSS as the negative control, Atropine sulfate as the positive control, and crude guava leaves extract as the test drug). Data were gathered, and analyzed using the nalysis of Variance (one - way Classification). The results obtained from determing the % average distance indicate that Atropine sulfate and crude guava leaves extract exhibit hypomotility effects as evidenced by the lesser distance traveled by charcoal along the gastrointestinal tract as compared to the effect of NSS which showed the least hypomotility action. We therefore conclude that the Psidium guajava (guava) leaves extract has hypomotility effects on the gastrointestinal tract of white albino mice that is almost si,ilar to that of atropine sulfate.

Department of Pharmacology