This experiment was carried out by the method developed
by Chatterjee (1993). Barium sulphate milk (15% barium sulphate
in 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose suspension) was
given orally to the mice after 15 min of administration of the
test extract (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg) or control. Atropine phosphate
(5 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. Each group of
mice (n = 6) were sacrificed 15 and 30 min after the administration
of barium sulphate milk (10 ml/kg). The distance traversed
by barium sulphate milk was measured and expressed as a percentage
of the total length of small intestine (from pylorus to
the ileoceccal junction). The percentage of inhibition compared
with the control group was determined by using the following
equation: