Evaluation of the diuretic activity of the aqueous and 80% methanol extracts of the leaves of Cucumis dipsaceus ehrenb (Cuccurbitaceae) in rats
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Date
2019-09
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Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Diuretics are drugs, which increase the excretion of electrolytes and water from the body
by an action on the kidney. Their primary effect is to decrease the re-absorption of salt
from the filtrate and increase water loss. They are used primarily to prevent and alleviate
fluid overload like edema and ascites. C. dipsaceus leaf is one of medicinal plants
claimed to have diuretic activity in indigenous system of medicine, but has not been
scientifically evaluated. Therefore, the present study was done to evaluate the diuretic
activity of the aqueous and 80% methanol extracts of the leaves of C. dipsaceus in rats.
Male rats were randomly divided into eight groups (six rats per each group): negative and
positive control groups, three different groups per each extract for different doses. The
volume of urine output, urinary electrolyte concentration (Na
+
, K
+
, and Cl
), and urinary
pH were measured and analyzed to make comparison among the groups. Both the
aqueous and 80% methanol extracts significantly increased the urinary output at
200mg/kg (p<0.01) and 400mg/kg (p<0.001) doses. Comparing the urinary electrolyte
excretion with negative control group: the 400mg/kg dose of aqueous extract treated
groups showed significantly increased urinary excretion of Na
+
(p<0.05), Cl
(p<0.01) and
K
+
(p<0.01). For 80% methanol extract, K
+
and Cl
-
urinary excretion also showed
significantly increased at 200mg/kg (K
+
; p<0.01 and Cl
-
: p<0.05) and 400mg/kg (for
both: p<0.01) doses. Similarly the saluiretic effect of both aqueous and 80% methanol
treated groups were significantly increased (p<0.01) at 400mg/kg dose. The Na
ratio
and pH values did not show any significant differences in all treated groups compared to
control. Generally, these findings indicate that both crude extract of C. dipsaceus leaves
exhibited significant diuretic activity, supporting the traditional claim of its use as a
diuretic agent.
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Keywords
Cuccumis dipsaceus, diuretic activity, electrolyte excretion, Na - + - /K + + /K + ratio