Química Medicinal

Evaluation of Diuretic Activity of Different Solvent Fractions of Methanol Extract of Carissa edulis Root Bark in Rats

Abstract

Selamu Kebamo, Eyasu Makonnen, Asfaw Debella and Bekesho Gelet

Background: Carissa edulis is used traditionally for the treatment of HIV/AIDS symptoms, rheumatism, gonorrhea, syphilis, rabies, malaria, epilepsy, chronic joint pain, and as a diuretic.

Objective: The present study investigates the diuretic activity of different solvent fractions of 80% methanol Soxhlet extract of Carissa edulis root bark in normal wistar rats.

Materials and methods: The volumes of urine output and urinary electrolyte were the parameters determined by oral administration of single doses of different solvent fractions of 80% methanol Soxhlet extract of Carissa edulis root bark at three dose levels (50, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) in normal wistar rats.

Results: The petroleum ether and n-butanol fractions showed no significant effect on the urine output and urinary excretion of K+ and Cl- at all tested doses. Urinary excretion of Na+ was, however, affected by the petroleum ether fraction (p<0.002 at 1000 mg/kg) and n-butanol fraction (p<0.05 at 50 mg/kg; p<0.03 1000 mg/kg). The aqueous fraction significantly increased urine output in a dose dependent manner (p<0.005 at 50 mg/kg; p<0.001 at 500 and 1000 mg/kg). It also significantly increased urinary excretion of Na+ (p<0.006 at 500 mg/kg; p<0.001 at 1000 mg/kg) and Cl- (p<0.05 at 50 mg/kg; p<0.001 at 500 and 1000 mg/kg) in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, the aqueous fraction produced no acute toxicity at the assayed dose, which was also consistent with previous results from mice model.

Conclusion: These findings collectively indicate that aqueous fraction exhibited significant diuretic activity, providing evidence, at least in part, for its folkloric use.