In Vivo Efficacy, Toxicity Assessment, and Elemental Analysis of Traditionally Used Polyherbal Recipe for Diarrhea

A polyherbal formulation consisting of Mentha piperita L., Camellia sinensis L. Kuntze, and Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton with a ratio of 10 : 5 : 2, respectively, was recommended for curing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Experimental validation is crucial to affirm its therapeutic property leads toward the development of modified antidiarrheal agents. This research aimed to investigate the in vivo antidiarrheal efficacy of traditionally used polyherbal recipe in a castor oil-induced animal model. Moreover, the study also presents the elemental screening and in vivo toxicity of tested polyherbal recipe. Individual plant parts of the polyherbal recipe were mixed according to the traditional prescription ratio, and hydromethanolic extract was prepared by the cold maceration process. The antidiarrheal activity was assessed by castor oil induction method, charcoal meal test, and enteropooling procedure in Sprague-Dawley rats. Elemental analysis and in vivo subacute toxicity were carried out, followed by biochemical, hematological, and histopathological analyses. Polyherbal extract significantly delayed the diarrhea onset in a dose-dependent manner and showed marked inhibition at 200 and 400 mg/kg. Fecal weight was reduced significantly (p