ESTIMATION OF CRUDE FIBER CONTENT FROM NATURAL FOOD STUFFS AND ITS LAXATIVE ACTIVITY INDUCED IN RATS

Crude fiber is a measure of the quantity of indigestible cellulose, lignin, and other components of this of this type in present foods. It is composed of insoluble residue of acid that is true cellulose, insoluble lignin and hemi-cellulose. Crude fibersare mainly used in treating and preventing constipation, blood sugar levels, appetite, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, coronary heart diseases and some type of cancers. To determine the quantitative estimation of crude fiber from different natural food stuffs an official method developed by Hennerberg, Stohmann and Routerberg was used. The following 12 different plants like Ananascomosus, Musa accuminata, Carica papaya, Vitisvinifera, Malusdomestica, Psidiumguajava, Manilkarazapota, Spinaciaoleracea, Rumexacetosa, Amaranthus, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Trigonallafoenumgraceum shows the ascending order of percentage of crude fiber. The laxative activity of some fruits like sapota, guava, grapes, apple, papaya, banana, pine apple was studied in rats. These results had shown that oral administration of fruit pulp extract produce significant crude fibre that increases faces output in rats.

Keywords: Crude fibre, Constipation, Natural food stuffs, Hennerberg, Stohmann and Routerberg method, Laxative activity, Fruit pulp extract.