Dr. Nedi, TeshomeAsefa, Lishan2020-03-122023-11-062020-03-122023-11-062019-09http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/21137Diuretics 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.en-USCuccumis dipsaceus, diuretic activity, electrolyte excretion, Na - + - /K + + /K + ratioThesis