ABSTRACT
The World Health Organization defined diarrhoea as the passage of 3 or more loose or liquid stools per day, or more frequently than is normal for the individual. Rotavirus and Norwalk-like viral infections cause most diarrhoeal diseases, particularly in young children, whilst microorganisms such as Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and Clostridium difficile are the most common pathogenic bacteria isolated from the diarrhoeal patients. Eleutherine americana, known locally as bawang tiwai, is a plant introduced from tropical regions of the Americas and widely distributed in Borneo, especially in West Kalimantan, and is widely used by the Dayak, an indigenous group in Borneo. The leaves are used as medicine for bloody diarrhoea and the pulp is applied externally as a paste. Melastoma malabathricum, known locally as karamunting or senduduk, is a plant species usually found in secondary forests. Melastoma malabathricum is believed to be able to neutralize poison.
