Abstract
Background and Objective: Constipation is one of the universal gastrointestinal problems that affect people of all ages. Several medications are used to relieve constipation, but their use is associated with adverse effects. This study evaluated the gut stimulatory activity of Terminalia chebula powder extract using in vitro and in vivo experimental methods. Materials and Methods: The powder extract of Terminalia chebula (T. Chebula) was reconstituted in distilled water. In vitro gut motility studies were performed on isolated rat colon, Guinea pig ileum and rabbit jejunum, while in vivo study was conducted on mice to determine the charcoal transit time. The in vitro studies were conducted in the presence and absence of atropine. The results were statistically analysed and p<0.05 was considered to indicate significance. Results: The observations indicated that T. chebula extracts produced dose-dependent stimulation of the smooth muscles of the colon, ileum and jejunum and the magnitude was found to be less than acetylcholine (Ach). The dose-response curves of both T . chebula and Ach were found to be shifted to the right-hand side when tested in presence of atropine. The intestinal transit time fora charcoal meal in mice significantly increased (p<0.05) when compared with normal animals. Conclusion: The mild stimulatory action induced by T. chebula could be useful in relieving the defective gastric motility without affecting the functional integrity of the digestive system. However, more studies are needed to establish the safety and efficacy including the mechanism of action of T. chebula.