This study was aimed at investigating the ethanol stem bark extract of Burkea africana for antidiarrhoeal activity using castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. The effect of the extract on perfused isolated rabbit jejunum was also evaluated. The ethanol extract produced a dependent relaxation of the rabbit jejunum. The extract protected the mice against castrol oil induced diarrheoa and it was not dose-dependent with the highest protection 60% with the two doses 20 and 40 mg/Kg body weight, while the highest dose 80 mg/kg bodyweight was 40% protection. The acute toxicity test revealed the median lethal dose LD50 values for the extract was found to be 2154mg/kg. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presences of flavonoid cardiac glycosides, tannins and triterpenes. In conclusion the results obtained revealed that the stem back extract possess pharmacological activity against diarrhoea and may possibly explain the use of the plant in traditional medicine.
