Antidiarrheal and bronchodilatory activities of olive extract

Abstract

This study describes the antidiarrheal and airways-relaxant effects of the olive or Olea europea crude extract (Oe.Cr). Oe.Cr which tested positive for the presence of flavonoids and saponins, inhibited the castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice at the dose range of 100-300 mg/kg. When tested against carbachol (CCh)-mediated bronchoconstriction in rats under anesthesia, Oe.Cr dose-dependently (30-300 mg/kg) suppressed the CCh (1 μmol/kg)-induced increase in the inspiratory pressure. In isolated guineapig trachea, Oe.Cr caused relaxation of both CCh (1μM) and high K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions, like that caused by verapamil, suggestive of Ca++ channel blockade. These results indicate that olive exhibit antidiarrheal, bronchodilatory and tracheo-relaxant activities.