African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (25), pp. 2988-2994, 28 December 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Review

Antidiarrhoeal activity of different plants used in traditional medicine

Salud Pérez Gutiérrez*, Miguel Angel Zavala Sánchez, Cuauhtemoc Pérez Gonzlález and Lucina Arias García

Departamento de Sistemas Biológicos, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, A. P. 23-181, México D. F., México.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: msperez@correo.xoc.uam.mx. Tel: +52-54-83-72-63. Fax: +52-54-83-74-10.

Accepted 13 November, 2007

Diarrhoea is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in children under age of 5 years. In view of this problem, the World Health Organization has a Diarrhoea Disease Control Program, which includes studies of traditional medical practices together with the evaluation of health education and prevention approaches. In this paper a review of the last 7 years about the studies of extracts of plants used to combat diarrhoea in different countries has been done.

Key words: Diarrhoea, medicinal plants, antidiarrhoeal effect.