Diuretic Activity of Trianthema portulacastrum Crude Extract in Albino Rats

Muhammad Asif^1*, Muhammad Atif¹, Amin Shah Abdul Malik¹, Zahari Che Dan², Irshad Ahmad³ and Ashfaq Ahmad¹

¹School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Penang, Malaysia, ²Deputy Vice Chancellor, Allianze University College of Medical Sciences, 13200, Kepala Betas, Penang, ³The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan

*For correspondence: Email: asif_pharmacist45@yahoo.com; Tel: +60125303242

Received: 5 October 2012                                       Revised accepted: 13 October  2013

Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, December 2013; 12(6): 967-972

Purpose: To evaluate the diuretic effect and acute toxicity of the crude aqueous extract of Trianthema portulacastrum in a rat model.

Method: Albino rats were divided into five groups. Control group received normal saline (10 mg/kg), reference group received furosemide (10 mg/kg) and test groups were given different doses of crude extract (10, 30 and 50 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal route. Urine was collected and the total volume of urine excreted was expressed as ml/6 hr/100 g body weight. Diuretic index and Lipschitz values were also calculated to make comparison with normal saline and furosemide treated groups, respectively.

Results: Significant diuretic (p < 0.001), kaliuretic (p < 0.001) and natriuretic (p < 0.001) effects were observed in treated groups in a dose-dependent manner. Urinary pH remained mostly unchanged during the course of the study. Diuretic index showed good diuretic activity of the crude extract. Lipschitz values indicated that the crude extract at the dose of 50 mg/kg exhibited 79 % diuretic activity compared with that of the reference, furosemide. No lethal effects were observed among albino mice even at the high dose of 3000 mg/kg.

Conclusion: The extract of Trianthema portulacastrum, particularly, at the dose of 50 mg/kg significantly increased the urinary volume and concentration of urinary electrolytes with no signs of toxicity and therefore, is a potential diuretic. Further studies, however, are required to isolate the active constituents.