Maesobotryabarteri, commonly known as bush cherry is used in orthodox medicine for the treatment of different ailments including diarrhoea. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the phytochemical compositions, acute toxicity (LD₅₀) and the effect of ethanolic extract of Maesobotryabarteri leaves as an antidiarrhoeal agent. Castor oil was used to induce diarrhoea in albino rats. 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg and 2000mg/kg extracts of M. barteri  were used to protect the rats against castor oil induced diarrhoea. The quantitative phytochemical screening of M. barteri revealed the presence of flavonoids, Saponin, Phenol, alkaloid, oxalate and phytate at the concentrations of 101.06ug/g, 21.32ug/g, 7.42ug/g, 1.75ug/g, 1.50ug/g and 0.57ug/g respectively. No experimental animal used to determine the LD₅₀ up to 5000mg/kg extract died. The result of the anti-diarrhoeal property of M. barteriafter pretreatment with the extract showed a considerable dose – dependent decrease in the production of diarrhoealfaeces, reduced the rate of defecation and the onset of diarrhoea in albino rats. The inhibition of diarrhoea by the extract as shown in the result may be attributed to the high concentration of flavonoid present in the plant.

Key words: Maesobotryabarteri leaves, antidiarrhoea, Phytochemicals