POTENT AND EFFICACIOUS DIURETIC ACTIVITY WITH POTASSIUM SPARING EFFECT OF TERMINALIA BELERICA FRUIT PULP AQUEOUS EXTRACT IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Objective: Diuretics are commonly used in edematous conditions, but they carry a high risk of adverse effects which varies from electrolyte imbalance
to fatal hypokalemia which is a matter of concern. Many herbal drugs possess diuretic effect used as folklore medicine for various ailments found to
be safer. Hence, our present study aim to evaluate potency and efficacy of Terminalia belerica fruit pulp aqueous extract (TBFPAE) in Wistar albino
rats as a diuretic.
Methods: Wistar albino rats weighing 200â€250 g of either sex were divided into five groups containing six animals each. Sodium chloride solution
(0.9%) was given to all the animals as a priming dose. Group I received normal saline (20 ml/kg, orally) which served as control, Group II served
as standard and received frusemide (10 mg/kg, orally), whereas Groups III, IV, and V received TBFPAE in the dose of 9, 18, and 36 mg/kg orally,
respectively, and were placed individually in metabolic cage. The urine volume and electrolyte concentrations of Na
+
, K
in the urine were
determined at the end of 5
th
hr.
Results: Our study revealed that TBFPAE possesses diuretic effect with a significant potassiumâ€sparing effect comparable to frusemide in the dose
of 9, 18, and 36 mg/kg in Wistar albino rats.
Conclusion: TBFPAE possesses diuretic effect with a significant potassiumâ€sparing effect comparable to frusemide in the dose of 9, 18, and 36 mg/kg
in Wistar albino rats comparable to frusemide.
Keywords: Aqueous extract, Diuretic activity, Fruit pulp, Potassiumâ€sparing effect, Terminalia belerica.
+

, and Cl
−