Antinociceptive, antidiarrhoeal and cytotoxic activities of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) pers

The ethanol extract of the dried fruits of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. (Family - Lythraceae) was investigated for its possible antinociceptive, antidiarrhoeal and cytotoxic activities in animal models. The extract produced significant (P<0.001) writhing inhibition in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice at the oral dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg of body weight comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium at the dose of 25 mg/kg of body weight. The extract showed antidiarrhoeal activity on castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice, it increased mean latent period and decreased the frequency of defecation significantly (P<0.001, P<0.01) at the oral dose of 500 mg/kg body weight comparable to the standard drug Loperamide at the dose of 50 mg/kg of body weight. The crude extract also produced the most prominent cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp Artemia salina (LC₅₀ = 60 μg/ml and LC₉₀ = 100 μg/ml). The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and its further investigation.