The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects on mice intestinal motility after oral administration of Operculina macrocarpa L. Urban, known as "batata-de-purga" or "jalapa", a northeast Brazilian medicinal plant used as a laxative. An hydroalcoholic decoction and dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-buthanol and residual fractions, as well as the powder preparation of "batata de purga" - as it is traditionally used - were evaluated. The results showed that dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and residual fractions, and the powder preparation showed a significant increase of the intestinal motility, in our experimental conditions.
Operculina macrocarpa; Convolvulaceae; in vivo; intestinal motility