Laxative effect of the crude methanolic extract of Polyalthia suberosa (Roxb.) Thwaites in mice

Polyalthia suberosa (Roxb.) Thwaites is traditionally used as abortifacient, laxative, febrifuge, analgesic, anti-HIV as well as filler’s of tooth cavities. The present study was directed to evaluate laxative activity of the methanolic extract of Polyalthia suberosa (Roxb.) Thwaites leaves (PSM). A variety of tests including laxative activity test, laxative activity on loperamide-induced constipation in mice and gastrointestinal motility test in mice were utilised to evaluate the laxative activity of PSM. PSM at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses, expressed laxative activity in Swiss albino mice. Laxative effect of PSM evaluated by laxative activity test exposes that PSM possesses laxative activity at both doses. PSM also showed effectiveness against loperamide induced constipation. In addition, this extract produced significant intestinal transit (*P˂0.05 vs. control) at both doses. The results of this study provide support for the traditional use of Polyalthia suberosa (Roxb.) Thwaites leaves as a laxative.