Anti-diarrheal activity of methanolic extract of Tephrosia purpurea.

Tephrosia purpurea, (Syn: Galega purpurea, Linn.; Family: Fabaceae) is locally known as Bansa (Punjabi), Sarphunka (Hindi) and Jangli kulthi (Sindhi). It grows wild throughout Indo-Pak-Bangla Desh subcontinent on hard and stony grounds (1-3). It is branched and sub-erect herbaceous perennial plant. The plants are propagated through seeds (4, 5). Phytochemical investigations revealed the presence of β-sitosterol, quercetin, lupeol, rutin, delphinidine chloride, cyanidine chloride, isolonchocarpin, lanceolatins A and B, pongamol, karangin, kangone, 5,7-dimethoxy-8-flavanone, 2methoxy-3,9-dihydroxycoumestone, flevichapparins B and C, methylkaranjic acid and purpurin among the plant constituents (6, 7). Resistance to the present compounds against management of different diseases has lead to search for the new candidates (8, 9). Tephrosia purpurea is reputed to possess diuretic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-asthmatic, anti-leprosy and anthelmintics properties (10, 11). The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-diarrheal activity of methanolic extract of Tephrosia purpurea.