Abstract

The study reports the in vivo antidiarrheal and in vitro cytotoxic and thrombolytic activities
of methanolic extract of Hedychium coccineum leaves (MEHCL). The antidiarrheal activity was evaluated
by castor oil-induced diarrhea, whereas the intestinal motility by charcoal marker. In addition, brine
shrimp lethality bioassay and human blood clot lysis were used to evaluate the cytotoxic and
thrombolytic activities, respectively. In antidiarrheal study, castor oil-induced diarrhea and
gastrointestinal motility exhibited a significant dose dependent reduction in diarrhea and defecation and
an extremely significant (P < 0.0001) inhibition in intestinal motility and peristalsis index by 200 and 400
mg/kg of MEHCL. The brine shrimp lethality bioassay revealed a considerable cytotoxic effect of MEHCL
(LC50= 81.59 µg/mL; R² = 0.927) while in thrombolytic a significant percentage of clot lysis (17.36%, P <
0.01) demonstrated. The findings suggest that H. coccineum leaves could be potential sources for
biological activity.

Key words: Hedychium coccineum; Zingiberaceae; antidiarrheal; thrombolytic